U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, along with Congressman Bruce Westerman, have voiced their opposition to the Army’s plan to potentially downsize the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. The lawmakers sent a letter to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll expressing concerns that such a move would contradict efforts to boost munitions manufacturing domestically.
The letter emphasizes that closing or downsizing the arsenal would violate existing laws and could lead to increased reliance on foreign sources for military supplies. “We appreciate your efforts through the Army Transformation Initiative to make the Army more lethal and more efficient,” they wrote, but argued that reducing operations at Pine Bluff Arsenal would not support these goals.
Pine Bluff Arsenal is noted as being the only site in America producing essential white-phosphorous ammunition. The legislators argue that it should be used more extensively for other critical materials like nitrocellulose and RDX, which are currently bottlenecks in supply chains.
The lawmakers contend that using commercial facilities or constructing new ones is not a viable alternative due to high costs and lengthy timelines. They argue that Pine Bluff Arsenal has inherent advantages, including an experienced workforce and existing infrastructure, which could expedite munitions production compared to starting from scratch elsewhere.
“We’ve also heard from the Army that its plan results in cost savings,” they wrote, but dismissed this claim as unsubstantiated since no other site produces white-phosphorus ammunition. They warn of potential long-term costs associated with shutting down operations at Pine Bluff Arsenal.
The legislators requested an in-person briefing by May 22 with Secretary Driscoll and General George to discuss how Pine Bluff Arsenal can continue contributing to national security while aligning with broader munitions goals set forth by President Trump.
They expressed hope for continued cooperation with the Army on shared priorities despite disagreements over this particular decision regarding Pine Bluff Arsenal’s future.
