A $42 million infusion of federal cash will help keep Fort Hamilton running smoothly for the next several years.
The funding, approved by Congress and the president as part of a continuing resolution earlier this year, will support the fort’s basic operations and needs until 2030, according to U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. It will cover essential infrastructure projects like grounds maintenance and road work, electrical and plumbing repairs, pest management, HVAC maintenance, and other improvements throughout the historic fort.
“This money will play a vital role in supporting our mission readiness by ensuring our facilities are equipped to meet the needs of our Service Members, families, and the installation’s workforce,” said Col. Misty Cantwell, commander of Fort Hamilton, in a statement. “We would like to thank the Congresswoman for her continued support and advocacy for Fort Hamilton and our mission.”
Once a critical part of the city’s harbor defense system, Fort Hamilton is now New York City’s only active military base, and is home to the New York City Recruiting Battalion, the Military Entrance Processing Station, the 1179 Transportation Surface Brigade, the 24th Civil Support Team, the National Guard Task Force Empire Shield and the North Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The fort supports DoD and National Guard members and provides essential services to tens of thousands of veterans and retirees, Cantwell told Brooklyn Paper in June, as the fort celebrated its 200th anniversary.
Fort Hamilton currently about 2,000 people, including hundreds of active duty service members and their families as well as reservists, National Guard members, Department of Defense Employees and contractors, and a number of civilians.
“Not only will this funding help ensure the base can operate efficiently and effectively, but it will also improve quality of life for the service members and their families who live and work there,” Malliotakis said in a statement. “We’re grateful for Fort Hamilton’s continued presence to our community as well as the service of the men and women assigned there. As the Fort celebrates its bicentennial, this investment will help strengthen its mission and readiness for its next 200 years.”
As the federal government provided funding to keep the fort running, it was also angling to permanently close the Harbor Defense Museum, housed inside Fort Hamilton’s dry moat. The museum chronicles 200 years of Fort Hamilton history, and advocates say it serves as a connection between the local community and the armed forces.
