Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works announces ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative for the Army’s Civil Works program

WASHINGTON - Today, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle announced a major initiative, "Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork," for the Army's Civil Works program.

"Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" will provide greater focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) core Civil Works missions, while minimizing non-core programs, direct funding to priority water resources projects that will provide the greatest benefits to the nation, shorten permitting timelines, and reduce or eliminate extraneous regulations and paperwork that slow USACE's delivery of Civil Works projects and programs.

"President Trump has empowered his administration to work with lightspeed efficiency to make our government deliver more for all Americans. The Army Civil Works' 'Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork' initiative will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver critical projects and programs for the nation more efficiently, sooner, and at less cost than the current ways of doing business," said Telle. "This will eliminate bureaucratic delays and provide fast, clear decisions needed to save lives and empower our economy."

"Continuous Army transformation is about rapidly delivering war winning capabilities to the Army today, not years in the future. But that's not all; we're also transforming at home, too," said Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll. "I'm incredibly proud of the 'Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork' (BINP) transformation initiative the Army Civil Works and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams recently unveiled. BINP will build and strengthen American infrastructure across our nation, increasing resiliency and providing tangible, long-lasting value for the American people."

"Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" will enable USACE district commanders around the nation to execute the Civil Works projects and programs that benefit the nation. USACE commanders will be empowered to take informed risks in advancing critical water resources projects and programs to completion faster and at less cost. The policy changes will also bring greater transparency and accountability for the program to the American public, project partners and sponsors, industry, and the elected leaders who make the annual funding decisions for the Civil Works program.

The plan consists of 27 initiatives grouped under five categories:

• Maximizing the Ability to Deliver National Infrastructure
• Cutting Red Tape
• Focus on Efficiency
• Transparency & Accountability
• Prioritization

The initiatives do not affect USACE execution of its emergency response support to natural and manmade disasters.

"The U.S. Army's Civil Works program has been an invaluable cornerstone for more than 200 years. 'Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork' will return USACE to a focus on its core missions and ensure the enterprise continues to be the most trusted national resource delivering water resources solutions," added Telle. "This is only possible with President Trump's leadership that has enabled our team to maximize our ability to deliver national infrastructure and cut red tape for the American people."

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District

Vicksburg, Miss. - The "Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" initiative will sharpen and accelerate the ability of the USACE Vicksburg District to execute its inland navigation, flood risk management, hydropower, and regulatory missions with greater speed and accountability. This includes advancing the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, which protects communities, supports navigation, and promotes environmental stewardship across the region.

The Vicksburg District, strategically located on the Mississippi River, is at the center of one of the nation's most vital transportation networks. Specifically, the Port of Vicksburg is home to the District's dredging and revetment fleets, as well as several large maritime businesses and industry training centers, and serves as an innovation hub for the navigation industry.

In addition, the initiative will enhance flood risk management efforts to better protect communities, agricultural lands, and economic development throughout the Mississippi Valley from impacts of flooding, while maintaining rigorous engineering and levee safety standards. The district's Regulatory program will also benefit from more streamlined processes, improving service to regional stakeholders and partners.

"Our focus is on delivering results," said Col. Jeremiah Gipson, Commander, USACE Vicksburg District. "By Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork, our team will execute missions more efficiently and effectively. This initiative strengthens our ability to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars while continuing to support safe navigation, protect communities, and energize a strong American economy."

The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation's toughest challenges. The district encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana, covering nine major river basins and incorporating approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees.