Florida Construction News staff writer
The Army’s Civil Works program has launched a new initiative aimed at speeding project delivery and reducing bureaucracy. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle announced the program, called “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” or BINP, which focuses on the Army Corps of Engineers’ core Civil Works missions while cutting unnecessary regulations.
“President Trump has empowered his administration to work with lightspeed efficiency to make our government deliver more for all Americans,” Telle said. “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. This will eliminate bureaucratic delays and provide fast, clear decisions needed to save lives and empower our economy.”
Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll said the initiative represents transformation at home as well as in the field. “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,” he said. “BINP will build and strengthen American infrastructure across our nation, increasing resiliency and providing tangible, long-lasting value for the American people.”
The initiative empowers Army Corps district commanders to advance water resources projects faster and at lower cost by allowing informed risk-taking and focusing on the most impactful projects. The plan includes 27 initiatives grouped into five categories:
Maximizing the ability to deliver national infrastructure
- Cutting red tape
- Focus on efficiency
- Transparency and accountability
- Prioritization
“The Army Civil Works program has been an invaluable cornerstone for more than 200 years,” Telle said. “‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ will return the Corps to a focus on its core missions and ensure the enterprise continues to be the most trusted national resource delivering water resources solutions.”
The Army Corps’ Jacksonville District has already seen results. The Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, or CEPP EAA Reservoir, has had its construction timeline accelerated by five years through a 2025 agreement between the U.S. Army and the state of Florida. Originally projected to finish in 2034, the reservoir is now on track for completion in 2029.
The reservoir will capture, treat and move water from Lake Okeechobee south to the central and southern Everglades, storing more than 78 billion gallons and delivering up to 470 billion gallons of clean water each year. The project will improve water quality, support ecosystems, and provide water for agriculture, communities, and tourism.
“This agreement is already making a difference in how quickly we can deliver critical Everglades restoration projects,” said Col. Brandon Bowman, Jacksonville District commander. “Accelerating the EAA Reservoir allows us to capture and move water south that would otherwise be lost to tide, improving water quality and supporting South Florida’s ecosystems and communities years ahead of schedule.”
As part of BINP, the Corps is also improving permitting through the Regulatory Request System, an online platform that allows the public and project sponsors to submit permit applications electronically. The system improves transparency, reduces delays and supports consistent decision-making while maintaining environmental protections.
“Our goal is a regulatory program that is efficient, accountable, environmentally responsible, and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve,” Bowman said.
With “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” the Army Civil Works program aims to deliver infrastructure faster, smarter and more efficiently for the American people.
