Army Corps Move Sparks Concerns

The planned relocation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District has drawn criticism from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is calling on state leaders to intervene and is offering Nassau County as an alternative home for the agency’s workforce.

The Corps’ New York District, which has operated in New York City since 1775, oversees a wide range of projects including shoreline protection, dredging operations, flood mitigation efforts, environmental restoration, navigation channels and storm resilience work throughout Long Island, New York City and portions of New Jersey.

The district has been heavily involved in projects such as the Fire Island to Montauk Point coastal protection program and major harbor dredging initiatives.

The controversy centers on plans to move the district from its longtime headquarters at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan to a leased facility in New Jersey. According to reports, Army Corps leadership cited high real estate costs in Manhattan as a reason for the relocation. The move is expected to begin later this year.

Blakeman blamed Governor Kathy Hochul for failing to keep the agency and its jobs in New York.

“Millions of families and businesses have already packed up and left to escape the soaring taxes, skyrocketing utility bills, and pro-criminal policies of the Hochul administration,” Blakeman said. “Chasing out the people who fund this state is bad enough, but now Kathy Hochul is letting critical federal infrastructure lines flee too.”

The relocation has also raised concerns among employees represented by IFPTE Local 98. A union survey found that roughly 60 percent of respondents said they would seriously consider leaving their jobs rather than making the commute to New Jersey, fueling fears of significant workforce attrition and the loss of institutional knowledge.

Blakeman said Nassau County would welcome the district and its employees. “If Albany is too broken to keep this vital agency in our state, Nassau County stands ready to step up,” he said. “We officially welcome the specialized workforce of Local 98 and the entire district leadership to make Nassau County their new home.”

Supporters of keeping the district in New York argue that maintaining close access to federal, state and local agencies is critical to delivering major infrastructure and flood protection projects efficiently.

The Nassau County executive is challenging Gov. Hochul in this year’s election and has been critical of her on the issues of high taxes, crime, illegal immigration, and residents and businesses fleeing the state in record numbers.