DOGE Shuts Down Five Federal Offices in Mississippi, Including Social Security Office

The Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly closed five federal offices in Mississippi, according to the department’s list of savings.

President Donald Trump directed the agency to explore methods for cutting expenses and regulations. Elon Musk, who holds the title of the world’s richest person, claims that the organization is implementing substantial cuts, resulting in savings for taxpayers.

Trump has suggested that his administration might consider distributing 20% of the so-called “DOGE savings” to taxpayers in the form of stimulus checks.

However, several fact checks indicate that the reported savings have consistently fallen short.

Here’s the current understanding of cuts and layoffs in government and which offices in Mississippi have reportedly closed due to DOGE-related decisions.

What is DOGE?

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order that rebranded the U.S. Digital Service—a branch of the executive branch—into the Department of Government Efficiency, officially known as the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization.

Musk was later appointed as a “special government employee.”

Several Democratic state attorneys general have filed lawsuits challenging Musk’s authority, arguing that his access to government data and cuts to funding violate the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which requires congressional approval for executive branch officers.

Trump has previously referred to Musk as the head of DOGE.

A judge declined to prevent Musk from accessing sensitive records, but a significant change in DOGE leadership was announced after a legal filing clarified that the world’s wealthiest individual does not oversee or work for the department, instead serving as a senior advisor to the president.

Amy Gleason has recently been appointed as the acting DOGE administrator.

Do DOGE cuts add up?

Thus far, DOGE has publicly announced significant cuts that were later quietly reversed.

“DOGE holds an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate waste and inefficiency,” wrote Nat Malkus, a researcher at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, in a blog post. “However, the sloppy execution observed thus far should raise concerns even among its most ardent supporters.”

In mid-February, the agency claimed to have achieved savings of $55 billion for taxpayers. The largest discrepancy in their accounting involved inflating a figure from $8 billion to $8 million. Nonetheless, canceled contracts, leases, and grants contributed to a total of $16.5 billion.

Musk also stated that the agency terminated 89 research contracts at the Education Department, initially costing $881 million. This amount was later revised by DOGE to $489 million. An analysis by New America, a left-leaning think tank, indicated that the actual total was closer to $278 million.

As of 3:30 p.m. on February 28, the DOGE savings portal reported a total of $65 billion in savings.

Which federal offices are reportedly closed in Mississippi?

As of Friday, five locations were designated as “True Termination – Agency Closed Office.”

U.S. Marshals Service, Oxford, DOGE estimates an annual savings of $16,149 on a lease cost of $9,228 for 600 square feet.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pearl was listed with no reported savings but has an annual lease cost of $112,316 for 7,161 square feet.

Three Social Security offices are said to be closed, although they are still listed on the Social Security Administration website as of Friday.

• Grenada: DOGE estimates $127,570 in total savings on a $255,140 lease cost for 8,946 square feet.
• Greenwood: DOGE estimates $504,916 in total savings on a $263,435 annual lease cost for 11,100 square feet.
• Meridian: DOGE estimates $977,426 in total savings on a $229,983 annual lease cost for 14,000 square feet.

How many federal workers are there?

Prior to the president’s offer of buyouts to a significant portion of the civil workforce, the total federal employment figure was about 2.3 million individuals. Approximately 75,000 workers reportedly accepted an eight-month buyout offer from the Trump administration, with additional terminations occurring since then.

Trump has stated his intention to pursue “large-scale reductions in the workforce.” However, the buyouts fell significantly short of the previously projected 10% reduction, and further furloughs and layoffs remain possible.

Some of the employee separations will be finalized after individuals pursue resolutions through administrative channels or legal actions.

How many federal employees are there in Mississippi?

As of March 2024, Mississippi had 19,560 federal civilian employees, according to the Congressional Research Service. This figure does not account for uniformed military personnel or federal contractors.

Details on the number affected by buyouts or layoffs are currently unavailable.

How many Social Security offices are there in Mississippi?

The Social Security Administration’s Atlanta regional office states there are facilities in 23 cities, including:

• Brookhaven.
• Clarksdale.
• Cleveland.
• Columbus.
• Corinth.
• Forest.
• Greenville.
• Greenwood.
• Grenada.
• Gulfport.
• Hattiesburg.
• Hernando.
• Jackson.
• Kosciusko.
• Laurel.
• McComb.
• Meridian.
• Moss Point.
• Natchez.
• Philadelphia.
• Starkville.
• Tupelo.
• Vicksburg.

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What other federal offices exist in Mississippi?

The U.S. General Services Administration identifies 10 federal buildings in the state, such as:

• T. G. Abernethy Federal Building in Aberdeen.
• New Greenville U.S. Courthouse in Greenville.
• Dan M. Russell Jr. U.S. Courthouse and Annex in Gulfport. (two facilities)
• William M. Colmer Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in Hattiesburg.
• Thad Cochran U.S. Courthouse in Jackson.
• Dr. A. H. McCoy Federal Building in Jackson.
• U.S. Courthouse in Natchez.
• U.S. Courthouse in Oxford.
• Mississippi River Commission in Vicksburg.

How many post offices are there in Mississippi?

The United States Postal Service reports a total of 613 offices in Mississippi. However, more than 210 of these are classified as discontinued offices.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. You can reach her via email at [email protected].