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Exhibit 1: Estimated Total Contribution of
Fort Bliss to the Texas Economy, 2025
Employment and Other Populations
Texas Military Installations, 2025 Fort Bliss
Background
Fort Bliss was established in 1848 in El Paso and is a pivotal U.S. Army installation with several commands and units.1 It is an Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) installation focusing on deploying, fighting and achieving victory in wars by ensuring the readiness and dominance of Army forces. The Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) there provides essential health services to support overall military readiness.
Units at Fort Bliss include the following:
- 1st Armored Division (“Old Ironsides”), which rapidly deploys for Unified Land Operations and commands Army, joint and multinational forces
- Joint Task Force North helps U.S. law enforcement intercept criminal activities related to border security and operates under U.S. Northern Command
- The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) offers critical air and missile defense across global theaters
- Joint Modernization Command conducts warfighting assessments to improve joint force interoperability and inform modernization decisions
- The NCO Leadership Center of Excellence and William Beaumont Army Medical Center provide professional military education and top-tier medical care, respectively.
Fort Bliss’ extensive military assets are complemented by advanced training facilities like simulation centers and specialized ranges, enhancing both operational readiness and strategic capabilities.
Economic Impact
As of 2025, Fort Bliss is home to 41,527 direct employees, including 30,288 active-duty military personnel. This base also has 185,499 military retirees accessing the installation, camp facilities and resources. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates the population directly affiliated with Fort Bliss and resident Army Airforce Exchange contributed at least $29 billion to the Texas economy in 2025.2
The Comptroller’s office and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission collected economic data from each of the state’s 14 U.S. military installations. This data was collected using a survey designed to ensure consistency in determining the total direct and indirect contribution of the base’s populations to state-level employment, gross domestic product, output and disposable personal income (Exhibit 1).3
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| Total direct employment4 | 41,527 |
| Total employment (direct & indirect)5 | 121,220 |
| Output6 | $29,090,546,000 |
| Gross domestic product7 | $17,314,311,000 |
| Disposable personal income8 | $8,997,609,000 |
Source: Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) – model for Texas
The Comptroller’s economic impact analysis represents a conservative estimate of the importance of Fort Bliss to Texas. Each installation’s distinctive characteristics contribute to the Texas economy in different ways. This analysis uses a consistent model to determine the economic impact of each of the state’s military installations on the state’s economic growth.
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Active-Duty Army | 28,040 |
| Active-Duty Navy | 1,227 |
| Active-Duty Air Force | 937 |
| Active-Duty Marine Corps | 16 |
| Active-Duty Coast Guard | 0 |
| Active-Duty National Guard/Reserve | 994 |
| Full-Time Employees Not Listed Elsewhere | 6,182 |
| FULL-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 1,731 |
| Non-Appropriated | 399 |
| PART-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Army Reserve | 0 |
| Navy Reserve | 0 |
| Air Force Reserve | 0 |
| Marine Corps Reserve | 0 |
| Coast Guard Reserve | 0 |
| PART-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 0 |
| Non-Appropriated | 706 |
| OTHER | |
| Contractors, Total (staff) | 2,410 |
| Average Daily Student Load | 7,170 |
| TOTALS | |
| Total Direct FTE Employment | 41,527 |
| Number of Dependents | 18,492 |
| Total Indirect FTE Employment | 121,220 |
Source: Fort Bliss
End Notes
- Department of Defense Military Installations; “Fort Bliss,”. (Last visited April 30, 2026)
- This study represents an analysis of the economic impact of the population and employees directly affiliated with the base. This includes active-duty, visiting, and other military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors directly affiliated with the base – as reported in documents emailed from Fort Bliss to Jolene Hudson, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, March 2026. ↳
- Estimate inputs and assumptions include the following: (1) all data submitted are for 2025; (2) input includes full-time, permanent employees and a full-time equivalent (FTE) for any part-time employees; (3) dependents are associated with Fort Bliss only; (4) all economic impact is within Texas. ↳
- “Total direct employment” refers to both actual full-time and full-time equivalent (FTE) employees plus contractors. For part-time employees, the FTE is calculated based on hours divided by the standard 40-hour work week. ↳
- “Total employment” refers to both direct and indirect employment, meaning “Total Direct Employment” as noted above plus any indirect employees such as temporary contractors. ↳
- “Output” refers to the total value of all goods and services (both final and intermediate) produced in Texas. Intermediate goods are those used to produce final goods. Sugar, for example, would be an intermediate good when used in the production of candy (final good) by candy companies. ↳
- “Gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas. ↳
- “Disposable personal income” refers to post-income-tax income. ↳