Picatinny Arsenal, that sprawling army base in Morris County, has just accomplished the impossible. Sort of.

The well-being of the base, and its 6,000 employees, has brought together New Jersey Democrats and Republicans. At least for now.

The state's two Democratic senators and 11 of its 12 House members (nine Dems and two Republicans) are demanding that the Pentagon stop a plan that they say would cost Picatinny almost $1 billion and 1,000 jobs.

The only New Jersey congressman not signing a letter to Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, was Republican Chris Smith.

The lawmakers are taking aim at a proposal to "dismantle the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition" (JPEOA&A) at Picatinny. They say that this "would have devastating consequences - threatening innovation, slowing weapons development, and risking military readiness."

The letter, which was released by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, whose district includes Picatinny,  added:

"Picatinny’s specialized expertise in ammunition research and development is unique and cannot be easily replaced."

The gist of the proposal would shift functions of the program to installations around the country. The lawmakers say this would be less effective and adversely impact Picatinny and the local economy.

The letter concludes that the Pentagon brief New Jersey lawmakers on the plan no later than Aug. 1. The lawmakers seek the following:

What analysis was done to determine that breaking apart the responsibilities for the JPEO A&A would increase efficiency?

What are the goals of the Army’s proposal and how did it determine breaking apart the JPEO A&A would accomplish those goals?
How much will the Army’s proposal cost?
How many civilian positions and contracts would be eliminated by implementing the Army’s proposal?
How did the Army consult with local communities and Congress in developing this proposal?

Picatinny dates back to the 1800's and has long been among the largest employers in Morris County.

Disputes over funding and even the base's continued existence have not been uncommon.

The Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) periodically has alarmed local and state officials who feared the base would close. But that has not occurred.