New DOGE Cost Savings Report Eliminates 4 Out of 13 Mississippi Federal Offices

• Four federal building leases in Mississippi have been taken off the termination list.
• The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claims to be saving taxpayers around $115 billion.
• Various fact checks have shown DOGE’s savings claims to be exaggerated.

Four federal building leases in Mississippi have been excluded from a DOGE list of lease terminations, according to the latest update.

Previously, the Department of Government Efficiency Wall of Receipts included 13 properties in Mississippi, but now only nine remain on the list.

This change is part of a broader retraction of acknowledged savings data, although the agency still asserts it’s saving taxpayers around $115 billion, which averages out to about $714.29 per person.

President Donald Trump tasked the agency with identifying methods to cut spending and regulations. Elon Musk, the wealthiest person globally, has stated that the organization is implementing major cuts that will benefit taxpayers.

Trump has indicated that his administration is considering distributing 20% of “DOGE savings” as a stimulus check to taxpayers, contingent on achieving approximately $2 trillion in total savings and obtaining congressional consent beforehand.

DOGE formerly projected that this approach would save taxpayers $3.7 million from rescinded real estate contracts in Mississippi, but this figure has now been revised downward to just over $2 million.

Multiple fact checks revealed that the agency’s claims of cost savings are often inflated, falling short upon further scrutiny. Additionally, the data on the Wall of Receipts doesn’t consistently align between updates, with some figures fluctuating or disappearing entirely.

The Trump administration has plans to close additional agencies, including the Department of Education, and further reduce the federal workforce. Some of these employment cases will be subject to legal review. The government is currently working to reinstate roughly 24,500 employees that were terminated during their probationary periods, following a federal judge’s ruling that declared the job eliminations illegal.

Here’s a summary of what we currently know regarding government spending cuts, layoffs, and which Mississippi offices have allegedly been closed due to DOGE’s decisions.

What is DOGE?

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order rebranding the U.S. Digital Service, an executive branch entity, into the Department of Government Efficiency. Officially, it is known as the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization.

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

Several Democratic state attorneys general have filed lawsuits, contesting Musk’s authority and arguing that his access to data and ability to alter government spending infringes upon constitutional rights.

Trump has previously referred to Musk as the head of DOGE, but a significant leadership change was revealed after a court filing stated that the world’s richest man does not oversee or work for the department, instead serving as a senior advisor to the president.

The judge declined to prevent Musk from accessing sensitive information.

Amy Gleason has been appointed as the acting DOGE administrator, and Trump has stated that Musk is leading the agency.

More: Could you receive a DOGE check from Trump and Musk in Mississippi? Key details explored

New DOGE data modifies reported savings by subgroup instead of total

In the two most recent updates to the savings site, DOGE claims approximately $115 billion in savings, equating to about $714.29 per person. The website indicates that roughly 30% of total savings are detailed on the site as individual line items.

The new figures include around 275 additional terminated contracts without altering the $20 billion in projected savings.

It also shows about 128 more canceled grants, which reportedly raise the savings estimate by approximately $1 billion, totaling $18 billion.

As of a March 11 update to the site, there were “793 lease terminations totaling 10,088,353 square feet and ~$500M in lease savings” recorded. However, information reported on March 19 reflects 657 terminations averaging 7,919,726 square feet, accounting for about $350M in savings.

Which Mississippi offices were eliminated from the DOGE lease termination list?

The Social Security Administration announced this week that updated security protocols would require more individuals to visit offices in person.

Nevertheless, the DOGE site did not provide an explanation for why certain properties were removed from the list this week, nor did it address the reduction in savings from specific line items.

The rationale for contract terminations was initially categorized as “True Termination- Agency Closed Office” for numerous properties. Others were labeled as “Termination via Mass Mod,” indicating it was part of a simultaneous adjustment of multiple contracts.

• Social Security Administration in Grenada: estimated total savings of $127,570 on an annual lease cost of $255,140 for 8,946 square feet, categorized as True Termination- Agency Closed Office.
• Social Security Administration in Greenwood: estimated total savings of $504,916 on an annual lease cost of $263,435 for 11,100 square feet, categorized as True Termination- Agency Closed Office.
• Social Security Administration in Meridian: estimated total savings of $977,426 on an annual lease cost of $229,983 for 9,796 square feet, categorized as True Termination- Agency Closed Office.
• Office of the Inspector General in Jackson: estimated total savings of $229,863 on an annual lease cost of $64,148 for 3,043 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.

More: 2 Mississippi federal buildings on the list Trump administration wants to sell after back to office mandate

What federal offices in Mississippi remain on the DOGE lease termination list?

The following nine office leases are recorded on the DOGE lease termination list as of Wednesday, March 19.

• U.S. Marshals Service in Oxford: estimated total savings of $16,149 on an annual lease cost of $9,228 for 600 square feet, categorized as True Termination- Agency Closed Office.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pearl: no total savings on an annual lease cost of $112,316 for 7,161 square feet, categorized as True Termination- Agency Closed Office.
• Internal Revenue Service National Office in Oxford: estimated total savings of $13,649 on an annual lease cost of $32,758 for 1,630 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.
• Environmental Protection Agency in Gulfport: estimated total savings of $82,604 on an annual lease cost of $198,250 for 8,608 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.
• Forest Service in Ackerman: estimated total savings of $83,484 on an annual lease cost of $71,558 for 4,809 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.
• U.S. National Wildlife Service in Jackson: estimated total savings of $1,187,039 on an annual lease cost of $284,889 for 14,840 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service in Greenwood: estimated total savings of $287,000 on an annual lease cost of $123,000 for 7,500 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.
• Internal Revenue Service National Office in Columbus: estimated total savings of $6,495 on an annual lease cost of $38,973 for 2,301 square feet, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.
• Food Safety and Inspection Service in Ridgeland: estimated total savings for 7,277 square feet of space. More information was not disclosed, categorized as Termination via Mass Mod.

How many federal workers are there?

Overall, there were approximately 2.3 million federal employees prior to the president’s buyout offers to a significant portion of the civil workforce. About 75,000 individuals reportedly accepted an eight-month buyout offer from the Trump administration, with additional layoffs occurring since then.

Trump has indicated a desire to achieve “large-scale reductions in force.” However, the buyouts did not come near the previously anticipated 10% workforce reduction, and further furloughs and layoffs may be on the horizon.

Some of these separations will be finalized as employees pursue resolution through administrative channels or litigation.

DOGE-related layoffs incite protests

How many federal employees reside in Mississippi?

As of September 2024, there were 19,690 federal civilian employees in Mississippi, excluding uniformed military personnel and federal contractors.

Data on how many were impacted by buyouts or layoffs has yet to be disclosed.

How many Social Security offices are situated in Mississippi?

The Social Security Administration’s Atlanta regional office indicates there are locations 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.

What are your thoughts? The head of Commerce claims Trump’s new tax plan might impact residents in Mississippi by eliminating income tax.

What other federal offices are expanded in Mississippi?

The U.S. General Services Administration facilitates federal offices and real estate contracts nationwide. The site indicates that there are 10 federal offices in Mississippi, though this is not an exhaustive list.

• 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. (comprises 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.

Is there a plan by the Trump administration to sell Mississippi federal buildings?

On Tuesday, March 4, the GSA announced plans to sell or otherwise capitalize on a list of 443 federal properties, including two located in Mississippi. They stated that the Public Buildings Service division “encourages innovative solutions, including sale-lease backs, ground leases, and other forms of public/private partnerships.”

The list was taken down from the website just hours after publication and has remained labeled as coming soon for more than two weeks.

According to the GSA, approximately 80 million rentable square feet of largely “vacant and underutilized federal office space” comprise over “$8.3 billion in recapitalization needs.” They estimated potential savings of up to $430 million in annual operational costs.

The list initially included many major government agency headquarters, which has since been removed. It also featured the Dr. A. H. McCoy Federal Building in Jackson and the Mississippi River Commission in Vicksburg.

There is no update on if or when the list may be reissued and whether the buildings will be sold or leased.

How many post offices are located in Mississippi?

The United States Postal Service counts 613 offices in Mississippi, although more than 210 of them have been discontinued.

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