Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:07 p.m. on March 12 to remove unconfirmed information about the potential closure of the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
Amid nationwide mass layoffs at the National Weather Center, the Department of Government Efficiency is now seeking to end 15 federal leases in Oklahoma.
DOGE’s list of terminated property leases include the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration facility in Norman and four federal facilities in Oklahoma City.
Keep up with OU Daily’s tracker of which federal facilities are experiencing lease closures across the state:
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in Norman
DOGE lists an annual lease cost of around $484,000 for a NOAA facility in Norman and a total estimated savings of around $4 million.
On Feb. 28, OU Daily reached out to NOAA for a statement regarding the layoffs and if the cuts would impact the issuance of severe weather alerts.
A spokesperson for NOAA wrote in an email that, according to long-standing practice, the agency does not discuss internal personnel and management matters.
“NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience,” the spokesperson wrote. “We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
OU Daily reached out to NOAA for an additional statement regarding the lease changes on Thursday and did not receive a response back.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife is one of the federal leases DOGE wants to exterminate in Broken Bow. The DOGE website lists that the annual lease cost is $30,612 and the annual savings would be $58,673.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plays a significant role in protecting wildlife, habitats and natural resources. The agency also oversees multiple national wildlife refuges in Oklahoma, including the Little River National Wildlife Refuge, Wichita National Wildlife Refuge and Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association posted a statement on Facebook, warning that critical conservation efforts are at risk.
“Right now, the National Wildlife Refuge System is under attack. More than 350 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees—many of them biologists on the frontlines of conservation—were fired in a move that guts science and wildlife protection,” the post reads. “We will not stand by and watch. We are Refuge Strong, and we are calling on Congress, Refuge Friends groups, and the public to protect the people who safeguard our nation’s wild places. Join us.”
Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration in Lawton is listed on the DOGE website to have an annual lease cost of $223,220 and the annual savings would be $55,805.
SSA office assists in applying for and managing social security benefits, aiding individuals in applying for and replacing social security cards, enrolling in Medicare and appealing denied claims.
A spokesperson for the SSA sent a statement to KSWO 7 regarding the recent lease termination in Lawton.
“We are working with GSA to review our leases and ensure they are used efficiently. Most of the leases we are not renewing are for small remote hearing sites that are co-located with other Federal space,” SSA reported. “As the majority of our hearings are held virtually, we no longer need as many in-person hearings locations.”
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Tulsa’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement lease costs $745,987 annually, according to the DOGE website, which also states its termination will result in $6,340,888 saved.
According to their website, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is committed to protecting people and the environment from the adverse effects of coal mining while recognizing the need for energy.
The homepage of the OSMRE website states that the Tulsa field office for the OSMRE is open despite reports otherwise. The Tulsa office serves Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and the Cherokee, Choctaw and Muscogee Tribes.
“While it has been reported that the Oklahoma Field Office is closed, the office is open and will continue to fulfill its responsibilities to the residents of Oklahoma,” the website reads.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is one of four federal leases DOGE is seeking to end in Oklahoma City. DOGE’s website lists an annual lease cost of around $134,000 and total savings of about $156,000.
It is the mission of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for Americans. They set and enforce workplace safety standards, provide training and conduct inspections.
Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service facility in Oklahoma City is listed on the website that its annual lease of around $120,000 would end and result in estimated total savings of about $190,000, DOGE reports. The IHS provides federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives, the organization’s website states.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Oklahoma City, which protects agricultural and natural resources, would end its annual lease cost of around $20,000 and result in total savings of about $40,000.
According to its website, APHIS also works with Native American tribes and safeguards tribal resources.
Office of U.S. Attorneys
DOGE intends to terminate the U.S. Office of Attorneys lease in Muskogee, which their website claims costs $1,272,005 annually and termination will save $3,710,015.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, according to their website, guides investigations and prosecutions of federal crime, prosecutes and defends civil actions in which the U.S. is a party, and collects debts owed to the federal government.
OU Daily reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for a statement regarding the lease changes on Friday. The organization has no comment at this time.
International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration in Oklahoma City is listed with estimated total savings of about $96,000 for a roughly $23,000 annual lease. According to the ITA’s website, its mission is to strengthen the international competitiveness of U.S. industry.
OU Daily reached out to the Oklahoma City office for the U.S. Commercial Service for a statement Friday. The Director of the Oklahoma U.S. Export Assistance Center wrote in an email to OU Daily that the organization has no additional information and cannot comment or interview.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The DOGE register lists the annual cost for the lease of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Tulsa at $109,426, and estimated the total savings at $0 dollars.
The HUD oversees programs that provide housing, assists community development and supports fair and equal housing opportunities for Americans.
In a post on the social media platform X from the official HUD X account on March 4, the organization praised the work done by a HUD Task Force working under DOGE.
“Thanks to @DOGE, our Task Force has saved the American taxpayers $1.9 billion in “misplaced” funds, identified $260 million in wasteful contracts, and cut $4 million in DEI contracts…and we’re just getting started,” the post read.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Offices At Risk
The DOGE register of lease terminations lists five locations of Bureau of Indian Affairs offices, including locations in Seminole, Pawhuska, Pawnee, Watonga and Carnegie. By closing this office, DOGE estimates total savings of around $408,078 across all.
In a statement posted to the Seminole tribe’s Facebook page, Chief Lewis Johnson listed some of the Seminole Nation’s concerns regarding the closing of the office. The concerns included reduced access to service and increased travel and costs for tribe members seeking resources.
This story was edited by Ismael Lele, Ana Barboza and Anusha Fathepure.
