New York City

Nothing against the Garden State, but these federal workers strongly prefer Manhattan. Najlah Feanny/Corbis via Getty Images

Despite federal workers threatening to quit if their office moved across the river, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District and North Atlantic Division headquarters is officially being moved from 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan to a privately owned commercial building in Jersey City. Senior leadership told employees in an email on Monday morning that a lease had been signed, confirming the relocation is going ahead. Politico first reported the move.

In late July members of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 98 were able to successfully push off the proposed signing of a lease originally planned for Aug. 15. The relocation plans, initiated by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a cost cutting initiative, included possible headquarters in Jersey City, Hoboken and Newark, leaving many New York-based employees with longer and more expensive commutes. When surveyed by the union, 45% of members said they would quit if the office was relocated to New Jersey. The new location is at 3 2nd St.

Local 98 President Daniel Kim claimed the move will result in a damaging loss of institutional knowledge, including from those who work on maintaining major navigational channels around New York. He said that engineers who have over a decade of experience have already left or entered early retirement due to a “lack of regard” officials have had for the union’s concerns. 

“You're going to have a much harder time getting people who live on Long Island to work on these projects,” added Local 98 Chief Steward Matthew Voisine. “I think that you might end up losing some support from the public because of it.”

At a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday morning to discuss the relocation, a union member granted anonymity for fear of retaliation said that management refused to acknowledge questions regarding the possibility of a diminished workforce and instead insisted that this move would be “extremely” beneficial to all, quoting cost saving measures. “Every time on this town hall that people had asked for an explanation, they just kind of did not provide one,” they said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for work on coastal remediation and flood prevention projects and was an integral part of repair after Hurricane Sandy.

Both New York Democrats and Republicans have supported the union in their effort to stop the relocation, sending letters to the Trump administration requesting to keep the headquarters in New York City. City Council Speaker Julie Menin stood with union members at a July protest and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sent a letter expressing his support.

In a statement, Menin called the signing of the lease “deeply disappointing.” “The Army Corps and the dedicated workers represented by IFPTE Local 98 have served New York for decades, including when our city has needed them most,” she said. “Forcing these workers out of New York would jeopardize that expertise. The City Council stands with IFPTE Local 98 and the (New York City Central Labor Council) in calling on the federal government to reverse this decision and keep the Corps where it belongs: right here in New York City.”

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief Public Affairs officer Ken Wells said the new location “best met” the federal government’s needs. “This move will result in significant annual cost savings, which can be used to move key water resources projects forward. The relocation effort will minimize disruption to employees, stakeholders, and ongoing missions,” he said in a statement.

Fariha Rahman is a freelance reporter based in New York City.