DOGE Shuts Down 13 Federal Offices in Mississippi, Including Social Security Office

• The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has canceled 13 federal real estate contracts in Mississippi.
• While DOGE claims to save taxpayers $3.6 million on the terminated contracts in Mississippi, past claims of savings appear to be exaggerated.

The Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly terminated 13 federal real estate contracts in Mississippi, including certain federal office buildings according to the department’s savings list.

Last week, the DOGE Wall of Receipts listed five canceled real estate contracts in the Magnolia State. By a Sunday, March 2, update, another eight contracts had been added.

The latest DOGE update regarding real estate reductions has seen a regression in transparency. Previously, the site provided details on the affected offices and agencies. The most recent information now lists the General Services Administration as the agency involved in most contracts, with many contract details absent as of 9 a.m. Monday, March 3.

President Donald Trump directed the agency to explore ways to cut spending and regulations. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, has asserted that the organization is making substantial cuts, thereby saving taxpayer money.

Trump indicated his administration is considering allocating 20% of “DOGE savings” to taxpayers in the form of stimulus checks.

DOGE claims to be providing a total savings of $3.6 million on canceled real estate contracts in Mississippi.

Nonetheless, several fact-checks of the agency’s prior cost savings statements have revealed inflated claims that do not hold up under scrutiny.

Here’s what we currently understand about the government’s cuts and layoffs, as well as which Mississippi offices have reportedly been closed due to DOGE’s actions.

What is DOGE?

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

Musk was subsequently appointed a “special government employee.”

Several Democratic state attorneys general filed lawsuits challenging Musk’s authority, claiming his ability to access data and implement cuts to government funds contravenes the Constitution. The Appointments Clause specifies that executive branch officers must receive congressional approval.

Previously, Trump referred to Musk as the head of DOGE, but a significant change in DOGE leadership was disclosed after a suit filing indicated that the world’s richest man is neither in charge of nor employed by the department, but rather serves as a senior advisor to the president.

The judge opted not to restrain Musk from accessing sensitive records.

Recently, Amy Gleason was appointed as the acting DOGE administrator.

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How much has DOGE saved? Do DOGE cuts add up?

As of Monday, March 3, the Wall of Receipts cited $105 billion in total savings, equating to $652.17 per taxpayer. A thorough fact-check of the March 2 update has yet to be completed.

To date, DOGE has announced sweeping reductions that have not been validated upon further examination. Some reductions are later reversed. This has drawn criticism from both political parties.

“DOGE has an exceptional 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 careless management demonstrated so far should give even its most ardent supporters cause for concern.”

In mid-February, the agency claimed to have achieved $55 billion in taxpayer savings. A major miscalculation on the “Wall of Receipts” inflated $8 million to $8 billion. In reality, canceled contracts, real estate leases, and grants accounted for only $16.5 billion.

Musk also indicated that 89 research contracts at the Education Department costing $881 million were terminated. However, DOGE later revised this figure to $489 million. An analysis by New America, a left-oriented think tank, suggested that the actual total was closer to $278 million.

Who is Amy Gleason, the woman who actually leads DOGE?

Originally, it was thought that Elon Musk was directing the agency as he played a key role in establishing the framework for Trump’s objectives.

Scripps News

Which federal offices are reportedly closed in Mississippi?

As of Friday, five sites were categorized as “True Termination- Agency Closed Office.” Additional details regarding the contracts were provided in a Feb. 24 data update.

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

The Natural Resources Conservation Service located in Pearl was noted as having no total savings with an annual lease cost of $112,316 for 7,161 square feet.

Reports indicate that three Social Security offices have closed, although they remain listed on the Social Security Administration’s website as of Monday.

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

The additional eight locations included in the March 2 update do not specify an agency on the DOGE website. All listed agencies were blank, and the reason cited was “Termination via Mass Mod,” indicating it was part of a simultaneous change to multiple contracts.

The available information includes:

• Oxford: $13,649 in estimated total savings against a $32,758 annual lease cost for 1,630 square feet.
• Gulfport: $82,604 in estimated total savings against a $198,250 annual lease cost for 8,608 square feet.
• Ackerman: $83,484 in estimated total savings against a $71,558 annual lease cost for 4,809 square feet.
• Jackson: $229,863 in estimated total savings against a $34,148 annual lease cost for 3,049 square feet.
• Jackson: $1,187,039 in estimated total savings against a $284,889 annual lease cost for 14,840 square feet.
• Greenwood: $287,000 in estimated total savings against a $123,000 annual lease cost for 7,500 square feet.
• Columbus: $6,495 in estimated total savings against a $38,973 annual lease cost for 2,301 square feet.
• Ridgeland: $144,159 in estimated total savings for 7,277 square feet of space; further information was unavailable.

How many federal workers are there?

Prior to the president’s buyout offers to much of the civil workforce, there were approximately 2.3 million federal employees. Reports indicate that around 75,000 workers accepted an eight-month buyout offer from the Trump administration, with more being terminated subsequently.

Trump has expressed a desire to see “significant reductions in force.” However, the buyouts did not approach the previously mentioned 10% decrease in workforce, and further furloughs and layoffs remain a possibility.

Finalization of some separations will occur after employees pursue resolutions through administrative channels or legal action.

How many federal employees are there in Mississippi?

As of September 2024, there were 19,690 federal civilian employees in Mississippi, not counting uniformed military personnel or federal contractors.

Details regarding the number of employees affected by buyouts or layoffs are not yet available.

How many Social Security offices are there in Mississippi?

According to the Atlanta regional office of the Social Security Administration, there are sites 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 are located in Mississippi?

The U.S. General Services Administration manages federal offices and real estate contracts nationwide. The site lists 10 federal offices in Mississippi, although this is not exhaustive.

• 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 613 offices in Mississippi. However, over 210 of these are discontinued offices.

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