Keep the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New York City

Secretary of the US Army

On March 9, 2026, employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were blindsided by an announcement that the agency's federally owned New York City offices would be relocated to privately owned office space in New Jersey by the end of the year.

Agency leadership has framed this move as a cost-saving measure aligned with efforts to make government more efficient. However, independent analyses, employee surveys, and documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests tell a different story. The evidence indicates that this relocation could increase costs, disrupt critical operations, and weaken the Army Corps' ability to serve the public.

Nearly half (47%) of New York-based employees surveyed reported that they would leave the agency if the relocation proceeds. The loss of this experienced workforce would jeopardize essential services that millions of people depend on, including emergency response operations, flood risk management, navigation channel maintenance, and infrastructure projects that have protected communities and supported commerce for generations.

The consequences would extend far beyond agency employees. Communities vulnerable to hurricanes, flooding, and other extreme weather events could face reduced preparedness and response capabilities. Businesses that rely on the safe and efficient movement of goods through the East Coast's busiest port could also be affected.

There is a better path forward. Army Corps employees have proposed alternative solutions that would achieve meaningful cost savings without sacrificing mission readiness or driving away skilled public servants. Concern about this rushed decision is not limited to the workforce. Elected officials from across the political spectrum and at every level of government have called on the Department of the Army to provide greater transparency, justify the move, and reconsider its plans.

Despite these concerns, decision-makers have failed to provide clear answers about how the relocation will save taxpayer dollars, why Congress and key stakeholders were excluded from the process, and why widespread objections have been ignored. The situation is even more alarming because similar office relocations may be planned for other major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The public deserves transparency. Taxpayers deserve accountability. And the communities that depend on the Army Corps deserve a stable, experienced workforce capable of carrying out its vital mission.

We, the undersigned, call on the Department of the Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to immediately halt the planned relocation, fully evaluate alternative cost-saving options, and maintain the Army Corps' longstanding presence in New York City.

To: Secretary of the US Army
From: [Your Name]

Petition to Maintain the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' New York City Office

To the Secretary of the Army, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), and the leadership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

We, the undersigned, urge you to immediately halt the planned relocation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' New York City office to New Jersey and maintain the agency's presence in New York City.

On March 9, 2026, employees were informed that the Army Corps intends to relocate its federally owned New York City offices to privately owned office space in New Jersey by the end of the year. While this decision has been presented as a cost-saving measure, information obtained through employee surveys, independent analyses, and public records requests raises serious concerns that the move may instead increase costs, diminish operational effectiveness, and weaken the agency's ability to fulfill its mission.

The proposed relocation threatens the retention of highly skilled and experienced personnel. Nearly half of surveyed New York-based employees have indicated that they may leave the agency if the move proceeds. Such a loss of institutional knowledge and technical expertise would jeopardize the Army Corps' ability to carry out critical responsibilities, including emergency response, flood risk management, navigation channel maintenance, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure delivery throughout the region.

The impacts of this decision would not be limited to the workforce. Communities that rely on the Army Corps for protection from flooding and other natural hazards, as well as businesses that depend on the safe and efficient operation of the Port of New York and New Jersey, could face significant consequences from reduced staffing and operational disruption.

We are also concerned by the lack of transparency surrounding this decision. Elected officials, employees, stakeholders, and members of the public have repeatedly requested information regarding the financial justification for the relocation, the alternatives that were considered, and the process by which the decision was made. To date, these questions remain insufficiently answered.

We respectfully request that you:

Suspend all actions related to the relocation of the New York City office.
Publicly release the analyses and justification used to support the proposed move.
Conduct a transparent review of alternative cost-saving measures, including options proposed by employees and stakeholders.
Consult with affected employees, elected officials, labor representatives, and community stakeholders before any final decision is made.
Maintain the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' longstanding presence in New York City.

The Army Corps has served the New York region for generations, helping protect lives, strengthen infrastructure, support commerce, and respond to emergencies. Any decision that risks weakening that mission warrants careful scrutiny, transparency, and meaningful public engagement.

We urge you to reconsider this relocation and preserve the Army Corps' ability to effectively serve the people, communities, and businesses that depend on it.