Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

Lee Forsgren, who has held several positions in government and the private sector, has assumed duties of the assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works following President Donald Trump’s decision to tap Adam Telle as acting secretary of the Army.

Telle was confirmed by the Senate as the assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works in August 2025, and Trump announced Telle would serve as acting secretary of the Army last month.

According to Eugene Pawlik, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Forsgren’s title currently is “senior official performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.”

Forsgren’s office expressed assurances that it will continue to function without change for stakeholders and others involved in civil works projects.

“As the senior official performing the duties of the ASACW, he takes on responsibility of the role consistent with the law, and there is no change in the office’s ability to efficiently carry out its duties,” Forsgren’s office said in a statement.

On March 31, 2025, Forsgren was appointed principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

In addition to work on congressional staffs, he has held previous positions at the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and several jobs in the private sector.

Forsgren is a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and received a law degree in 1990 from George Mason University.

He is a retired commander of the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he served from 1983 to 2009.

AAPA Supports Permitting Reform Bill

The American Association of Ports Authorities (AAPA) announced its support for the long-awaited permitting reform bill introduced by a bipartisan group of key senators.

“Critical port infrastructure projects like deeper channels or upgraded terminals are far too often delayed or even altogether halted due to frivolous lawsuits and lengthy environmental reviews,” AAPA President and CEO Sang Yi said.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, also welcomed support for the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act from labor leaders, energy producers and nonprofits.

Co-sponsors of the bill include Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the EPW panel, and Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Moore Capito has said she wants to make the bill a top priority when the Senate returns in November following the mid-term elections.

Even with its bipartisan support, the bill has drawn sharp criticism. The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) announced its “strident opposition” to the bill, describing it as a “legislative assault on the sovereignty of tribal nations.”

The Western Environmental Law Center called the bill a “five-alarm fire” that threatens to eviscerate environmental, wildlife, water and climate laws.

Maritime Security Coordinator Sought

The Coast Guard is requesting applications to fill one vacancy in the Area Maritime Security Committee, Eastern Great Lakes, Western New York Region Sub-Committee to assist the Captain of the Port as the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC), Buffalo, in developing, reviewing and updating the Area Maritime Security Plan for that area of responsibility.

Applications must reach the Captain of the Port, Buffalo, by October 31. They must be submitted to the Captain of the Port, Buffalo, Attention: Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Maxey, 1 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY 14203-3189.

For additional information, contact John Kelly at 571-613-2856 or John.K.Kelly@uscg.mil.