Schumer: New Comptroller Knows Preserving DFAS Rome Is A Top Priority

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer met yesterday with recently-confirmed Under Secretary of Defense, Mike McCord, who serves as the comptroller of the U.S. Army and oversees Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in Rome, to reiterate his commitment to preserving all 950 jobs at the highly efficient and cost-effective facility. Previously, in March 2014, after concerns arose that the Army was studying ways to streamline certain nationwide DFAS services, Schumer spoke with Army Secretary John McHugh and then-Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Bob Hale and received assurances that there were no plans to close DFAS as part of a pilot program taking place at other DFAS sites. Schumer then met with DFAS employees in Rome to explain what he had heard from McHugh and Hale, and to pledge his long-term support for DFAS. During his meeting with Under Secretary McCord, Schumer reiterated that the Rome site and its workers are highly efficient and productive and should never be considered for a cut.

"I made clear to the previous Comptroller that DFAS in Rome is one of the Army's most efficient, productive and cost-effective sites and should remain just where it is for the long-term, and I reiterated that to the new Comptroller today," said Schumer. "Under Secretary McCord is fully aware of my commitment to maintaining a high workload and a high level of staff at DFAS for the long-term, and he knows how important DFAS is to the Army and to the local economy. When it comes to preserving DFAS, we cannot rest on our laurels; we must continue to stay vigilant and make it clear to those who oversee the budget that DFAS is the type of cost-effective operation that should play an integral role in the Army's future."

Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Rome employs over 950 local workers in the Rome and Utica area, doing work for the Army, including Fort Bragg. In March 2014, local concern arose over draft Army reports that suggested DFAS in Rome could be considered as part of an Army consolidation. A "pilot' study in which returning soldiers would perform some accounting work at Fort Bragg was a major driver of that concern. In a visit to DFAS Rome, Schumer announced that the pilot study would not start on April 1st, as reported, and instead would be delayed for a later date. Moreover, Schumer explained that then-Comptroller Hale told him that this pilot study would absolutely not close DFAS in Rome.

Schumer, before a tour of the facility, said that he had spoken with both Army Secretary McHugh and Comptroller Hale, who have jurisdiction and ultimate authority over DFAS and its workload. Comptroller Hale, in two personal phone calls, confirmed to Schumer that DFAS is a part of the Army's long-term plans, that he is impressed with the work being done at DFAS, and any potential reductions in workload would be minimal. Schumer said that, even with these reassurances, he would be watching the Army and Department of Defense like a hawk to make sure that they held their word. Further, Schumer vowed to continue to fight on behalf of DFAS, saying that cost-effective operations like DFAS Rome should be maintained even as the Army returns soldiers and strives to operate under a more constrained budget.

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