~March 3, 2026: NOTE: This updated news release contains links to memorandums related to the Army’s Civil Works program ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative.~
USACE St. Louis District highlights potential for improved support to navigation, FUSRAP, and flood risk management missions.
ST. LOUIS – Today, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Adam Telle, announced a major initiative, “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) 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, St. Louis District
The initiatives will improve commercial navigation by focusing on dredging capacity, contracting approaches, and innovative solutions for dredged material management and will benefit the St. Louis District’s authorized mission to maintain a 9 ft. navigation channel throughout its area of responsibility.
Much of the Upper Mississippi River navigation system relies on locks and dams built in the 1930s and 1940s, designed for smaller tows and lower traffic volumes. Today, aging infrastructure creates bottlenecks that cost the nation time and money—delaying shipments, increasing operating risks, and straining supply chains. Strategic investment now not only reduces these delays and safety risks but also ensures the efficient movement of hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually, supporting billions of dollars in U.S. agricultural, industrial, and energy exports, and preserving a critical backbone of national commerce.
The Lock and Dam 25 Expansion Project will construct a new 1,200-foot lock, modernizing a critical pinch point on the Upper Mississippi River where aging 1930s-era infrastructure causes significant delays for today’s standard barge tows. Once complete, the project will cut lockage times in half, improve safety, and support the movement of hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually, underpinning billions of dollars in U.S. agricultural and industrial exports and strengthening the nationally significant inland waterway. The Civil Works “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiatives such as streamlining of processes and prioritization of resources will maximize the St. Louis District’s ability to deliver on national infrastructure such as Lock and Dam 25 as well as other critical infrastructure.
Additionally, the St. Louis District began remediation in the Cades Cove neighborhood in February 2026 as part of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP), a critical step to safely remove more than 14,000 cubic yards of soil along Coldwater Creek. The work reflects USACE’s commitment to transparent, community-focused remediation. The St. Louis District is also actively assessing opportunities to accelerate remedial actions across Cades Cove, Coldwater Creek, and North St. Louis County to protect public health and restore land more quickly. The St. Louis District is committed to completing remediation and remaining transparent and accountable to the residents of St. Louis.
“By modernizing Lock 25 and completing FUSRAP cleanup, we are strengthening America’s critical inland waterways and protecting communities, directly supporting national economic competitiveness and public safety,” said Col. Andy Pannier, commander of the St. Louis District. "'The Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork' initiative enables the St. Louis District to efficiently deliver our critically important navigation, flood risk management, and FUSRAP missions."
For additional information on the “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiatives and St. Louis District projects, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 314-331-8000 or TeamSTL-PAO@usace.army.mil.
For additional information on the “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiatives, please reference the links below:
ASA(CW) Memorandums