Buddhists Sue Army Corps of Engineers

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately one percent of the United States population identifies as Buddhist. This equates to about 3.5 million people, about half of whom live in the Western part of the country. Since Buddhists represent a tiny majority of the United States population, you almost never hear about them in the context of religious discrimination lawsuits. However, there are sometimes rare exceptions to the rule – and a recent case involves the Army Corps of Engineers. 

Buddhists Argue That Army Corps of Engineers’ Construction Project Would Infringe on Their Religious Rights

In late July of 2025, multiple sources reported that a Buddhist group in Florida was suing the Army Corps of Engineers over a construction project they say infringes on their religious rights. The Army Corps of Engineers initially sought to dismiss the suit, but a federal judge denied this motion and paved the way for a trial. 

The Buddhist group in question operates a retreat center near the construction project. The plaintiffs argue that the project would negatively affect their center while disturbing members during meditation sessions. The construction project is slated to take nine years, a timeline that would render the retreat center utterly unusable, according to the group. 

Despite the involvement of the military, the construction project itself is surprisingly environmentally friendly. In fact, the entire purpose of the project is to create what the Miami Herald calls a “nature-based buffer” that holds water inside the Everglades. The engineers say that this project would keep polluted water away from the fragile wetlands while minimizing flooding concerns. 

In its efforts to dismiss the suit, the Army Corps of Engineers argued that the statute of limitations had expired. However, the court found that the statute of limitations only began in 2023, when Congress approved and funded the project. 

An Odd Dispute Over What’s Best for Nature

While the Army Corps of Engineers might claim that their project protects nature, the Buddhists have a very different opinion. The group lists concerns like vehicle emissions, noise, vibration, and dust. They also say that they would be unable to experience “peace, natural harmony, and oneness with nature” if this nine-year project goes ahead. 

So the real question is simple: Who is really trying to protect nature in this situation? Does the Army Corps of Engineers hold the moral high ground with its goal to shield the wetlands from polluted water? Or are the Buddhists correct in trying to protect the overall tranquility of the area? This is a question that the parties may have to explore in court, perhaps with some interesting evidence to back up their claims. 

One has to remember that the Buddhists’ traditional veneration for nature does not give them any special knowledge or qualifications in this field. In contrast, the Army Corps of Engineers is filled with experts and trained professionals who know how to protect areas from floods and pollution. The Buddhists would do well to remember this, perhaps by building their arguments around the religious freedom issue rather than environmental concerns. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each month, various cases test the nature of religious rights in this country. While the basis for many religious rights is the United States Constitution, there are still countless cases that question the exact nature of these rights. The Universal Life Church’s blog is focused on documenting the most noteworthy of these cases in an objective manner that can be easily understood by readers.