The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has called on members of the Texas congressional delegation to intervene in plans to lay off nearly 900 workers at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD). The union, which represents both civilian defense contractors and federal employees at the facility, is urging Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, as well as Representatives Michael Cloud and Vincente Gonzalez, to take immediate action.
According to IAM, 200 civilian defense contractors represented by the union have received notice that their employment will end on September 30, 2025. Additionally, about 200 of the depot’s approximately 2,300 federal employees—also represented by IAM—are among those slated for elimination as part of a broader plan to cut up to 600 federal positions. Further reductions may be possible.
“CCAD is the world’s largest rotary-wing repair facility and is considered a Department of Defense (DoD) Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for rotary-wing aircraft,” wrote IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “The depot employs more than 2,500 highly skilled workers. The workforce and repair capacity at CCAD is vitally important to our military readiness and national security. To begin to disassemble this workforce and squander this capacity would be both imprudent and inefficient. CCAD is also a major economic driver for southern Texas. With CCAD pouring over $1.6 billion into the regional economy annually, job reductions on the scale proposed will have major implications for the surrounding communities.”
IAM has highlighted that CCAD injects more than $1.6 billion each year into the local economy, supporting thousands of jobs in Corpus Christi and neighboring areas. The union argues that reducing staff at such a scale could impact not only defense capabilities but also local businesses reliant on depot operations.
The union is asking Texas lawmakers to press the Department of Defense and U.S. Army to reverse their downsizing plans in order to protect both military readiness and economic stability in southern Texas.
IAM represents about 600,000 active and retired members across various industries throughout North America.
