WASHINGTON – A commission charged with reviewing the Pentagon’s proposal to close or downsize 62 major domestic military facilities sounded largely receptive as Defense Secretary Rumsfeld testified yesterday that the sweeping reorganization was vital to American success in the war on terrorism.

“The changes are essential in helping us win in this conflict,” the Pentagon chief said, adding that eliminating unneeded property to save money for combat capabilities was “more necessary, not less, during a time of war.”

The first round of base closings in a decade seeks to save $48.8 billion over 20 years by streamlining services across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, shutting down bases deemed inefficient, and promoting cooperation among the four branches. The closure list includes the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Conn.

Overall, it aims to restructure a military configured to defend against Soviet threats into one focused on terrorist threats of today. “If we don’t make some of this happen, we’re going to be stuck in the Cold War mind set for a long time to come,” the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, told the nine member commission.

With the exception of skepticism over recommended changes to National Guard and Reserve units, the panel sounded open to the overall plan to close or reduce forces at 62 major bases and 775 minor installations. Dozens of other facilities would grow, absorbing troops from domestic and overseas American bases slated for closure or downsizing.

Mr. Rumsfeld warned the panel that tinkering with one facility – or trying to “pull a thread” – could cause plans for other parts of the American defense network to unravel.

“One must be careful about taking a selective look at individual components or pieces of these recommendations without considering how those components or pieces fit into the larger whole,” he said.