USACE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — 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,” Telle said. “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,” Telle added. “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 Albuquerque District

The plan’s initiatives include cutting red tape and increasing project efficiency while also reducing project cost. The Albuquerque District will work closely with other water resource entities and partners to streamline projects that protect public infrastructure and mitigate flood risk, without sacrificing responsible oversight.

A cornerstone of this initiative is empowering non-federal sponsors to take a larger role in the planning, design, and construction of projects. This is facilitated through an efficient, reimbursable model that allows local partners to lead efforts and expedite timelines.

“Across our arid climate, managing water resources effectively is critical to sustaining public safety as well as the economy,” said Lt. Col. Matt Miller, commander of the USACE-Albuquerque District. “This ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative will enable us to be more efficient in delivering critically important projects. From water storage to flood risk mitigation, we want to achieve the maximum benefit for the communities we serve while ensuring the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”

This streamlined approach is already yielding positive results in several key projects:

• The Upper Venada Arroyo Improvement Project is being delivered faster and at a lower cost by moving to a reimbursable model that allows the non-Federal sponsor to take on a larger role in planning, design, and construction. This project is scheduled for completion in May, 2026, and is part of series of projects designed to control surface water, sediment, and contaminants as the watershed flows into the Rio Grande.
• For the Fountain Creek Flood Risk Management Project, the City of Colorado Springs is conducting the feasibility-level study. USACE will provide technical assistance throughout the process to ensure compliance with all federal regulations. This partnering model empowers cities to achieve vital community projects on a much quicker timeline while leveraging expertise from USACE.
• Processing times for water storage agreements at Abiquiu Lake have been significantly reduced by delegating the approval authority, showcasing major gains in administrative efficiency and enabling greater flexibility for water storage and delivery.

By executing projects more efficiently, USACE and its partners can better mitigate flood risks, protect the region’s vital water resources, and deliver greater value to the public.

About the USACE-Albuquerque District

The USACE-Albuquerque District, in collaboration with our partners, delivers vital engineering solutions to water resource challenges. The Albuquerque District operates nine dams in four river basins to manage flood risk and provide water supply to communities across the region. In addition, the Albuquerque District has partnered with non-Federal sponsors to construct 21 dams and 107 miles of levees to reduce flood risk. These projects increase safety, facilitate economic development, and improve the environment of communities in southern Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas.