Battle for jobs: Army boss tours Arsenal facilities

“If we’re not fighting for this, it will go away.” That’s the word from U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, on Monday afternoon, June 30, shortly after he toured the Rock Island Arsenal with Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and other senior military and elected leaders. That tour was meant to showcase the importance of the work […]

“If we’re not fighting for this, it will go away.” That’s the word from U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, on Monday afternoon, June 30, shortly after he toured the Rock Island Arsenal with Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and other senior military and elected leaders. That tour was meant to showcase the importance of the work on Arsenal Island amid concerns that hundreds of jobs may be cut in ongoing efforts to trim the federal budget.

The Arsenal is one of the top employers in the region, employing about 6,200 people and contributing more than $1.2 billion to the local economy, according to the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “The Trump administration has dragged the Arsenal into chaos. … We can’t play politics with the work (going on at the Arsenal),” Mr. Sorensen said during a brief news conference held at the American Post 569, Milan, shortly after the tour. Monday’s tour of Arsenal facilities went from 8:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. and featured several officials – including U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa – seeing various sections of Arsenal Island. “As a 24-year Army veteran, I’m committed to strengthening the Arsenal and safeguarding the thousands of jobs it supports across the Quad Cities,” Ms. Miller-Meeks posted on social media after the tour. Mr. Sorensen said he was happy with the almost day-long tour and is hopeful Mr. Driscoll was able to see that Arsenal workers do many jobs that are vital to national security. Some of those jobs include operating the world’s largest metal 3D printer that makes parts for military vehicles, with another printer on its way. Also, the Arsenal’s workforce makes drones, also called unmanned aircraft systems, that are needed in today’s military, the congressman added.

“The Rock Island Arsenal is essential and plays a huge role in defense. … I think he (Mr. Driscoll) gets that today,” Mr. Sorensen told reporters.

Potential merger, job cuts

The event comes a few weeks after local elected, business and community leaders learned of potential plans to merge two Arsenal entities – the Army Sustainment Command (ASC) and the Joint Munitions Command (JMC). That possible merger would eliminate up to 400 Arsenal jobs, hurt the local economy and hurt the valuable work being done on the island to safeguard the nation, according to information provided by the Quad Cities Chamber. Many of those leaders gathered on Tuesday, May 13, to pledge their support for the Arsenal and fight efforts to combine entities and cut jobs. “This is a community effort to protect and sustain the Rock Island Arsenal. … This is an opportunity for everyone in the Quad Cities to collaborate and come together,” said Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said at the time. He also is the chairman of the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance (RIADA).

QC leaders fight for Arsenal  

The alliance is a community-led, QC Chamber affiliated nonprofit corporation that is dedicated to the support and promotion of the Rock Island Arsenal and Quad Cities region’s defense industry.  Those community leaders also led a petition drive and met with federal officials in Washington, D.C., after learning about the potential job cuts at the Arsenal. The possible merger was proposed in a memo from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to Pentagon leadership. A copy of that memo, dated April 30, was given to the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal in May. The four-page memo does not mention the Arsenal by name, but does state: “The Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems.” A portion of the memo states that the Army must downsize, consolidate or close redundant headquarters. It added:  “Restructure the sustainment enterprise by consolidating and realigning headquarters and units within Army Material Command, including the integration of the Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command, to optimize operational efficiency and streamline support capabilities.” The memo does not mention any timelines and deadlines for the proposed merger. “But, it’s supposed to be very quick. That’s why we are concerned,” Mr. Matson said in May.

Possible growth ahead 

On Monday, Mr. Sorensen said the fight continues to save Arsenal jobs. The congressman added that he doesn't want to see any of those jobs cut. He believes more jobs and funding should come to the Arsenal because of its vital work. In fact, Mr. Driscoll recently said there could be growth at the Arsenal as the military reorganizes its bases around the globe. “I would actually hypothesize there would be growth at Rock Island on a net basis,” Mr. Driscoll said during a Thursday, June 5, Senate committee meeting. “But combining those units (under the proposed restructure plan for the Arsenal), they’re working on the plans right now.” The next steps in the process to help the Arsenal will be to reach out to Mr. Driscoll and other officials in Washington, D.C., in an effort to convince them that cuts should not be made and more resources should be put into the Arsenal. “We (the community) need to build the value of the Arsenal,” he added. Mr. Sorensen said that part of that value is showing federal officials – and even Quad Cities residents – the many other features on Arsenal Island. One of the features is the recently updated Rock Island Arsenal Museum. The museum reopened in 2023 after a three-year, $2 million renovation. Even with that massive renovation, recent reports have stated the museum might be a victim of those federal budget cuts and could be closed. During Monday’s news conference, Mr. Sorensen said the museum “probably won’t close.” While he will continue to push the argument that the Arsenal workers do incredibly important tasks to protect our national security, he added that he knows the big issue with many people in the area is to keep fighting and keep those important jobs in the Quad Cities. “My neighbors’ jobs are on the line,” said Mr. Sorensen.