As part of its mission to downsize the federal government and cut spending, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced changes to more than 100 federal office leases across the United States. The agency claims these changes contribute to the $55 billion in savings it has already identified.
However, questions are emerging about whether those savings are as significant as advertised, especially as some offices had already planned closures before the DOGE’s involvement.
What Offices Were Affected?
According to the DOGE website, over 100 federal office leases have been modified or canceled. Surprisingly, none of the office closures affected federal facilities in Kentucky or Indiana, while Ohio accounted for 10 canceled or modified leases—the highest number among neighboring states.
The largest affected lease was for the National Archive Center in Fairfield, Ohio, a suburban area north of Cincinnati.
- The office occupied 124,569 square feet of space.
- The annual lease cost was reportedly $478,213.
- Despite this, DOGE listed savings of just $39,851, though it’s unclear how this figure was calculated.
Notably, the National Archives had already announced plans to close the Fairfield facility back in August 2024, before Trump’s re-election and DOGE’s establishment, raising questions about whether these savings can truly be credited to DOGE’s efforts. Many of the stored items from Fairfield were relocated to the Dayton Archives Center.
Which Ohio Offices Were Targeted?
Here’s a breakdown of the Ohio federal offices affected by DOGE’s lease changes, according to official data:
| Agency | Location | Square Footage | Status | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Archives Center | Fairfield | 124,569 sq. ft. | Closed | $39,851 (unclear basis) |
| U.S. Federal Court Bankruptcy Clerk | Columbus | 61,371 sq. ft. | Unknown | Not specified |
| Department of Justice | Cincinnati | 3,096 sq. ft. | Closed or relocated | Not specified |
| General Services Administration | Fairborn | 2,983 sq. ft. | Modified lease | Not specified |
| General Services Administration | Middleburg Heights | 5,421 sq. ft. | Modified lease | Not specified |
| Multiple Agencies | Middleburg Heights | 1,000 sq. ft. | Relocated | Not specified |
| Defense Contract Management Agency | Akron | 3,201 sq. ft. | Moved to new office space | $242,020 (over 5 years) |
| United States Trustees | Dayton | 2,257 sq. ft. | Closed or relocated | Not specified |
| Social Security Administration | Columbus | 3,999 sq. ft. | Unknown | Not specified |
| Probation Office | Toledo | 6,834 sq. ft. | Modified or relocated | Not specified |
The biggest confirmed savings come from the Defense Contract Management Agency in Akron, where moving to different federal office space is projected to save $242,020 over a five-year lease.
Are the Savings Real or Inflated?
While DOGE claims to have identified billions in savings through office lease reductions, experts and critics have raised concerns:
- Some leases, such as the closure of the National Archive Center, were scheduled to end before DOGE’s intervention.
- Savings figures for certain contracts, like the $39,851 from the Fairfield office, are unclear given the much higher annual lease cost.
- Many of the closed or modified offices involved relatively small spaces that may have minimal financial impact on the federal budget.
Charles Tiefer, a retired law professor and government contracting expert, criticized DOGE’s approach:
“Canceling contracts that were already scheduled to end or shifting offices around without clear cost benefits seems more symbolic than strategic.”
What Does This Mean for Ohio’s Federal Services?
Though the federal government claims that services won’t be disrupted, consolidating offices could lead to challenges:
- Agencies like the Social Security Administration and the Probation Office in Toledo may see longer processing times as they relocate or consolidate services.
- Government employees might face job relocations or layoffs as office space shrinks.
- Some agencies have moved operations to shared federal office spaces to cut costs, which could lead to efficiency or space constraints.
