The transfer of the first wave of workers from Fort Monmouth, N.J., to Aberdeen Proving Ground hinges on whether the secretary of the Army believes the move would weaken the U.S. war on terrorism, officials said.

About 50 people from the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center at Fort Monmouth were scheduled to come to Maryland last week to tour the area. They would be among the first to move to Aberdeen under the Base Realignment and Closure process.