DOGE canceling hundreds of federal agency leases

• By the end of 2025, hundreds of federal agency leases will be terminated, totaling two million square feet of office space. The General Services Administration is collaborating with the Department of Government Efficiency to cut at least $500 million in lease costs.
• The IRS, Social Security Administration, Department of Agriculture and U.S. Geological Survey are among the agencies facing 20 or more lease cancellations.
• Public opinion remains divided, with 54% of voters opposing DOGE’s actions and 60% disapproving of its handling of the federal workforce.

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By the end of 2025, hundreds of federal agencies plan to terminate their leases, marking a significant downsize in government office spaces across the country. The General Services Administration (GSA) in partnership with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is leading the charge to clear offices and buildings nationwide.

GSA focused on cost-cutting

The lease cancellations are coming in waves, with a total of two million square feet of office space set to close. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration, Department of Agriculture and U.S. Geological Survey are among the agencies facing 20 or more lease cancellations.

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GSA said it’s prioritizes agreements that agencies can vacate without penalty. DOGE said it expects the closures to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Starting in June, the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Massachusetts and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Idaho will be among the first to shut their doors. By August, the Federal Highway Administration in Iowa and the IRS National Office in Alabama will follow suit.

In September, the Bureau of Prisons in Atlanta and the FDA in Baltimore will close, with dozens more slated to shut down by December, including the National Park Service in Colorado and Alaska and the Federal Railroad Administration in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mixed reactions to DOGE’s measures

While DOGE touts the GSA’s lease terminations as a significant money-saving initiative, public opinion remains divided. According to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, 54% of voters oppose the actions spearheaded by DOGE and Elon Musk, with many arguing the measure is hurting the country. On the other hand, 40% believe the moves are helping the nation.

The same poll also reveals a divide over federal workers. 60% of respondents oppose DOGE’s handling of the federal workforce, while 36% support Musk’s approach.

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What is the General Services Administration?

As the nation’s largest real estate organization, the GSA manages over a million federal workers’ workspaces. On its website, DOGE tracks the progress of these cancellations, displaying a “leaderboard” to show which agencies are saving the most money. The GSA is at the top of the board.

However, not all lease terminations are guaranteed. Agencies still have options to reduce their current space, relocate to a new office, or negotiate a new lease to stay in the same location.