March 26, 2026

Rep. Foushee Demands Transparency After Army Follow-Up to Bull City Battalion Relocation Inquiry

WASHINGTON, DC (March 26, 2026) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) sent a letter to United States Army Brigadier General Maurice Barnett after receiving a response to her November 24, 2025 letter regarding the reclassification of the Bull City Battalion.

The Bull City Battalion has been hosted at Duke University since 1982, where it was previously known as the Blue Devil Eagle Battalion. A recent proposal seeks to reclassify this program as an extension of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, fundamentally altering its structure and leadership.

“In your response, you note that “the DRP employees began administrative leave in March 2025, and the associated civilian pay was removed from USACC’s budget,” and that officer production has declined “17 percent since 2020 with associated reductions in program funding and assigned military personnel.” While this provides important context regarding broader fiscal and personnel pressures, it does not explain why reclassification of this specific battalion was required,” wrote Congresswoman Valerie Foushee.

“The response does not assess retention or attrition risk, potential training degradation, or the specific impact on NCCU cadets facing increased travel time and reduced local support. Additionally, no safeguards, transition plan, or accountability measures were identified to ensure officer development outcomes are preserved during implementation.” continued Foushee. “Our intent is not to question Cadet Command’s authority, but to ensure that a decision with direct district-level impact is supported by a complete justification and a clearly articulated implementation framework.”

Congresswoman Foushee has raised concerns about Duke University losing its on-site Professor of Military Science and civilian support positions, and the impact the relocation will have on North Carolina Central University students’ access to the program.

Specifically, the letter asks the United States Army Cadet Command to provide further information regarding:

  1. The cost and funding analysis supporting the reclassification, including alternatives considered.

  1. Any assessment conducted regarding retention, attrition, or training impacts on affected cadets.

  1. The safeguards or mitigation measures that will be implemented to preserve program quality during the transition.


The full text of Congresswoman Foushee’s letter can be found here.