Gov. Murphy urges Army to reconsider restructuring plan that could impact Picatinny Arsenal
TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy has urged the U.S. Department of Defense to reconsider a proposed Army restructuring plan that he says would severely impact New Jersey’s Picatinny Arsenal and jeopardize national defense readiness.
In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, Murphy expressed concern over the Army Transformation Initiative, which would consolidate the Army’s 12 Program Executive Offices (PEOs) into seven Capability Executive Offices (CEOs). The plan would reassign key responsibilities currently held by Picatinny, potentially removing nearly $1 billion in program funding and eliminating up to 1,000 highly skilled positions.
“As the Army’s primary armament facility, Picatinny possesses decades of unmatched technical expertise, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a highly skilled, mission-driven workforce,” Murphy wrote. “Removing this critical mission from Picatinny would not only dismantle a uniquely capable and proven center of excellence – it would result in poorer weapons being delivered to our soldiers, compromising their safety and weakening our battlefield effectiveness for generations to come.”
Murphy cited that Picatinny is home to more than 6,000 personnel and currently manages research, development, and acquisition of advanced conventional weapons. Under the proposal, he said, approximately $500 million in annual R&D funding for ammunition would be redirected elsewhere.
He also criticized the fragmentation of the acquisition process, saying it would disrupt a decades-old model that ensured coordination and oversight, further delaying production and weakening outcomes.
The letter follows similar concerns raised by Rep. Mikie Sherrill and the majority of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, who requested a full briefing by Aug. 1 and posed several questions regarding the rationale, costs, and community consultation involved in the restructuring plan.
“The future of Picatinny Arsenal is not just a New Jersey issue, it is a matter of national defense,” Murphy said. “Picatinny should be at the center of efforts to expand production capacity and strengthen our industrial base—not sidelined.”
Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco echoed Murphy’s position, calling Picatinny “a national asset” and warning the changes could “threaten the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs” while undermining critical defense capabilities.
