The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest defense and aerospace union in the United States, has called on Texas congressional leaders to intervene against planned layoffs at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD). The IAM is appealing to U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, as well as Representatives Michael Cloud and Vincente Gonzalez, to act swiftly to stop nearly 900 job cuts scheduled for September 30, 2025.
According to the IAM, about 200 civilian defense contractors at CCAD represented by the union have received layoff notices. Additionally, approximately 200 of the depot’s 2,300 federal employees—also represented by IAM—are among the 600 federal positions marked for elimination. Further reductions are 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.”
CCAD supports thousands of jobs in southern Texas through its operations, with an annual contribution exceeding $1.6 billion to the local economy. The IAM warns that these layoffs could affect not only military readiness but also impact local businesses and neighborhoods.
The union urges lawmakers from Texas to request that the Department of Defense and U.S. Army reconsider their downsizing plan in order to protect both jobs at CCAD and its broader economic role.
IAM represents roughly 600,000 active and retired members across North America in industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive sectors in both the United States and Canada.
