Honolulu, Hawai’i – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is embarking on a major overhaul of its Civil Works program, an initiative officials say will streamline project delivery and prioritize critical infrastructure investments. Announced on , the “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” plan aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and accelerate the completion of vital water resource projects across the nation, with a particular focus on strengthening navigation capabilities in the Pacific region.
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle framed the initiative as a response to a call for greater efficiency within the federal government. “President Trump has empowered his administration to work with lightspeed efficiency to make our government deliver more for all Americans,” Telle stated in a press release. “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.”
The plan encompasses 27 transformation initiatives categorized under five key areas: maximizing infrastructure delivery, cutting red tape, focusing on efficiency, enhancing transparency and accountability, and prioritizing projects. A core component of the initiative involves empowering USACE district commanders to take informed risks and expedite project completion while maintaining accountability to the public and elected officials.
The announcement comes as USACE continues maintenance dredging operations at Honolulu Harbor, a critical seaport for the State of Hawai’i. According to USACE data, the harbor receives over 98% of all goods entering the state, with much of that cargo subsequently distributed to the neighboring islands. Dredging commenced in and is being carried out by Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc.
The Honolulu Harbor dredging is part of a broader effort to maintain navigable waterways throughout Hawai’i and other Pacific territories. Earlier in , USACE completed similar maintenance projects at Kaunakakai Harbor on Moloka’i and Kahului Harbor on Maui, removing approximately 28,000 and 142,000 cubic yards of sediment respectively. These projects are essential for ensuring the safe passage of commercial, military, and other vessels.
The strategic importance of maintaining these waterways is underscored by the vast geographic distances and relative isolation of many Pacific islands. Reliable navigation channels are crucial for the flow of goods and supplies, as well as for military logistics in the Indo-Pacific region. “Every day, billions of dollars in goods, as well as critical military logistics, flow through harbors across remote Pacific islands, where geographic isolation makes reliable navigation channels indispensable,” a USACE statement noted.
Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Biggerstaff, Commander of the USACE Honolulu District, emphasized the agency’s commitment to supporting Hawai’i and the wider Pacific region. “Maintaining federal navigation channels and harbors is a core USACE mission – which we’re proud to support for the State of Hawaii, our nation, and our Pacific neighbors,” Biggerstaff said. Over the past decade, the Honolulu District has removed more than 1.2 million cubic yards of material from nine federal harbors.
The “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative builds upon previous dredging efforts, aiming to increase capacity and efficiency. The plan does not affect USACE’s ongoing emergency response capabilities for natural and man-made disasters, officials clarified. Instead, it focuses on optimizing the agency’s core Civil Works missions and reducing administrative burdens.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll highlighted the broader implications of the initiative, stating, “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. 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.”
The initiative’s emphasis on transparency and accountability is intended to foster greater public trust and collaboration with project partners and sponsors. USACE officials say the changes will provide clearer decision-making processes and ensure that projects align with national priorities. The plan aims to deliver engineering solutions across the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening the USACE commitment to the area.
The USACE Honolulu District oversees the inspection and maintenance of 27 federal navigation harbors across a 15,000-square-mile region, encompassing Hawai’i, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The success of the “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative in this region will be closely watched as a potential model for similar efforts nationwide.
