Federal Office Closures Spark Chaos: How Mass Lease Terminations Are Disrupting Government Services

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has embarked on an aggressive cost-cutting campaign that is throwing the federal workforce into chaos. One of the most drastic moves so far has been the abrupt termination of approximately 750 federal office leases—an action that has disrupted operations across multiple agencies, blindsided employees, and left landlords scrambling to make sense of the administration’s sweeping edict.

The lease cancellations, overseen by the General Services Administration (GSA), were ostensibly designed to save the government $660 million. However, the manner in which the terminations have been carried out suggests that efficiency was not the primary concern—at least not in the way that ensures government services continue to function smoothly. Entire offices have been shut down with little to no warning, forcing workers to relocate or, in some cases, leaving them without a workplace at all. Even the cost-savings claim is dubious, as leases that had already been paid through future months were terminated prematurely, wasting taxpayer dollars rather than conserving them.

The fallout from this decision has been immediate and severe. Among the affected offices are critical agencies such as IRS help centers, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and various regional offices for U.S. Attorneys and the Army Corps of Engineers. Many of these offices provide essential services to the public, and their abrupt closures have left workers scrambling to find alternative locations while disrupting government operations.

Adding to the disorder, the implementation of these mass terminations has been riddled with mistakes. Some property owners received termination notices despite having leases that were not scheduled for cancellation, indicating a rushed and poorly planned process. Others, caught off guard by the sudden policy shift, have expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the government. This reckless approach has raised questions about whether DOGE’s goal is truly about efficiency—or simply about slashing costs at any expense, even if it means breaking functional systems in the process.

Critics argue that this latest move is just one part of a broader effort by the administration to dismantle federal agencies under the guise of efficiency. The simultaneous push to eliminate telework and force employees back into the office, only to then take away their offices, highlights the incoherence of the administration’s policies. Employees who had adapted to remote work during the pandemic were ordered back to in-person attendance, only to find that their workplaces were being shut down. The whiplash effect has devastated morale, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and instability within the federal workforce.

For many, the lease terminations are not just a logistical nightmare but a sign of deeper dysfunction. The administration’s approach to governing appears to be rooted in a corporate-style “disrupt and dismantle” philosophy rather than a thoughtful plan for improving public service. While cost-cutting in government is often necessary, the reckless execution of these measures suggests that the well-being of federal employees and the citizens they serve is an afterthought.

As legal challenges and backlash mount, the consequences of these chaotic policies will become clearer. But one thing is already certain: rather than increasing efficiency, DOGE’s heavy-handed tactics are eroding the ability of the federal government to function effectively. The workers and the public are left to deal with the fallout.