Picatinny Arsenal could lose 1,000 jobs in Army restructuring, NJ Dems, GOP warns

by William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record

A federal proposal to enact a "strategic transformation" of the U.S. military has drawn sharp criticism from both Democratic and Republican leaders in New Jersey, who fear the changes could cut operations and as many as 1,000 jobs at Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County.

The reactions to what is known as the Army Transformation Initiative started at the top with Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, but also include Republican leaders such as state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco.

“Beyond its critical national defense mission, Picatinny serves as a major economic engine for our region and the state, providing high-quality careers for thousands of New Jerseyans," Bucco, whose district includes Picatinny, said in a joint news release with Murphy on July 22. "I strongly urge the Department of Defense to reconsider these changes and to recognize the critical role Picatinny continues to play in safeguarding our country and supporting our service members.”

Murphy went one step further, writing to Defense officials and asking them to provide a full briefing on their plans no later than Aug. 1.

“The Army’s proposed restructuring, which would transfer key research functions away from Picatinny, not only threatens the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs but also risks the innovation and expertise that have made Picatinny a national asset," Murphy wrote.

Officials at Picatinny referred questions to the Defense Department, which did not respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a June 18 Pentagon report, said the Army "has become calcified" and has suffered from years of "inefficiencies, slow-moving processes and wasteful spending." The report blamed "lobbyists and bureaucrats for overtaking the Army's ability to prioritize soldiers and warfighting."

Picatinny Arsenal facing $1B cut, state says

Crossing the borders of multiple Morris County towns, Picatinny Arsenal is home to more than 6,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel, including scientists, engineers and acquisition experts who research and develop advanced conventional weapons and ammunition, from large ordinance to small-arms fire.

The base, established by the U.S. military in 1880, is Morris County's second largest employer after the Atlantic Health System, according to county data.

Under the Army Transformation proposal, approximately $500 million in annual R&D funding for ammunition would be redirected away from Picatinny, according to Murphy's office. In all, he said, the arsenal would lose a total of nearly $1 billion in annual funding.

Republican Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, who, like Bucco, represents Picatinny in New Jersey's 25th district, issued a public call for Hegseth to visit the site and see that it is "best positioned to deliver on the Department of Defense's goals."

“Picatinny’s workforce is critical to keeping the armed forces ready to meet the challenges of modern hostilities," Dunn said. "The value of this garrison can’t be reduced to a numbers game. I am asking Secretary Hegseth to see it in person so he better understands the gravity of the proposed changes and how well prepared this base is to meet modernized acquisition processes.” 

"I spoke to people at Picatinny and they were completely caught off guard by this," Dunn added in an interview.

Will Picatinny be a campaign issue?

Picatinny's fate could become a campaign issue in this year's race for the governor's office. U.S. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate, also represents the base. She joined a coalition of 10 New Jersey Congress members in a July 23 letter expressing similar concerns about the Army proposal.

The signees also included Republicans Tom Kean Jr. and Jeff Van Drew. Republican Chris Smith was the lone holdout on the letter, which was signed by Democratic U.S. senators Corey Booker and Andy Kim as well.

"Moving the research and development of arms and ammunition to other offices will lead to less coordination and fewer systems entering production," the letter reads. "Given the current constraints on the Army’s stockpiles and industrial base, this would cripple Army modernization."

Eric Arpert, campaign manager for GOP candidate for governor Jack Cittarelli, stated, "Jack is 100% committed to reversing the proposed cuts and protecting all of the jobs and federal investment http://dailyrecord.comat Picatinny Arsenal."

"Jack will always put the interests of New Jersey first − no matter which president or party occupies the White House," Arpert wrote in an email to the Daily Record. "New Jersey has already been a donor state for years, with our taxpayers giving far more to the federal government than we get in return. The only way to reverse that trend is to elect a governor who can have a productive working relationship with the administration and a direct line to the president."

What is the Army Transformation Initiative?

According to a report published by the Department of Defense, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy A. George stated on May 1 that the branch was implementing a "comprehensive transformation strategy," consistent with Defense Secretary Hegseth's April 30 directive titled Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform.

Continue reading on dailyrecord.com