Assemblywoman Dunn urges Pentagon to protect Picatinny Arsenal after Army secretary’s visit
MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — Picatinny Arsenal, one of Morris County’s largest employers and a cornerstone of the U.S. military’s research and weapons development, is at the center of renewed debate over potential Pentagon restructuring plans that could shift jobs and funding out of New Jersey.
Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Morris), a member of the New Jersey Military Skills Council, has been a vocal advocate for protecting the installation, which employs about 6,000 military, civilian, and private-sector workers and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy.
In July, Dunn invited federal officials to visit Picatinny and see its critical work firsthand. Last week, that invitation was accepted as U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll toured the facility to observe advancements in drone defense technology and other weapons systems.
“I hope he walked away from that visit agreeing with me, that the work being done here is too important to dismantle and scatter,” Dunn said. “Its value can’t be reduced to a numbers game.”
The Pentagon’s proposed plan, announced in April, calls for streamlining operations across military research sites — a move that could shift about 1,000 jobs and $1.5 billion in funding from Picatinny Arsenal to facilities outside New Jersey.
Established in 1880, Picatinny is considered the Army’s premier hub for research, development, and manufacturing of next-generation warfare systems. The arsenal supports a regional network of small and mid-sized businesses that contribute to the defense supply chain, while providing an estimated $367 million in annual workforce labor statewide and $163 million to Morris County.
“Secretary Driscoll saw firsthand the talent and innovation happening at Picatinny that makes and keeps our military the best in the world,” Dunn said. “I trust he now sees that New Jersey is the place to keep this important work going.”
