NJ Army Base Jobs In Jeopardy Despite Trump's $1.5 Trillion Defense Fund Plan

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Dozens of jobs may be at risk at one of New Jersey’s most prominent Army bases, according to state officials.

With 6,200 full-time employees, Picatinny Arsenal, situated in both Jefferson and Rockaway townships, is the second-largest employer in the county. But slashes to federal funding and military restructuring may change that.

The sounding of the alarm comes after thousands of US Army employees across the country were given notice of “workforce rebalancing,” or in other words, jobs are on the chopping block.

At Picatinny specifically, where roughly two-thirds of employees are scientists and engineers, about 83 staff members received the notice, according to a report from the Daily Record.

Assemblywoman Marissa Sweeney calls Picatinny a “hub of innovation,” and says the move is going to “hurt Morris County tremendously.”

“When these jobs are cut, we’re not just losing positions,” Sweeney said. “We’re weakening our investment in science, we’re disrupting a highly specialized workforce, and we’re greatly impacting our community and our country.”

The proposed job cuts come as President Donald Trump seeks a historic $1.5 trillion for the country’s defense budget, and slashes research organizations' funding, including from the National Cancer Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, and more.

Also expressing concern for Picatinny is Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, who calls the base “a cornerstone of our local economy and a critical driver of innovation and national defense.”

“I have long fought to protect and strengthen Picatinny because of the thousands of high-skilled jobs it supports and the vital role it plays in developing the tools our military depends on,” she said. “Any disruption to that workforce has real consequences for our communities.”

The Picatinny Arsenal serves as the U.S. Army's Joint Center of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition. The entity serves as a research and development center for advanced weaponry for all U.S. military branches.

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