March 20, 2025

In a Letter to General Services Administration, Duckworth, Durbin, Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation Outline Harmful Impacts of Recent Termination of Federal Government Leases

“DOGE” claims to have terminated 793 federal leases across the country including 24 in Illinois, jeopardizing Illinoisans' ability to access critical federal services

 

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, sent a letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian requesting answers in regard to GSA’s recent termination of federal government leases across Illinois. As of March 6, 2025, GSA, in conjunction with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claims to have terminated 793 federal leases across the country—24 of which are in Illinois. These abrupt lease terminations have left impacted agencies in the dark and created alarm and confusion for federal workers.

The lawmakers wrote, “The Trump Administration has made clear its intent to reduce GSA's footprint by selling half of the buildings owned by the federal government and terminating half of the leases used by federal agencies nationwide. However, the lack of transparency around these actions and DOGE's influence in the process of lease terminations is troubling. The ‘wall of receipts’ touted on the DOGE website is not an adequate source of information. The so-called department has acted carelessly, terminating leases recklessly and without proper consultation with the agencies involved or consideration for the workers, constituents, and communities impacted by these decisions.”

“GSA and DOGE terminated 24 leases in Illinois, claiming an alleged ‘savings’ of $15 million. We are concerned about the impact these lease terminations may have on Illinoisans' ability to access critical federal services. For example, the closure of a Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Rockford, Illinois, could make it difficult for seniors and people with disabilities to schedule appointments or apply for retirement and disability benefits, as the next closest SSA office is more than a 30-minute drive away. In addition, DOGE reportedly is pressuring the SSA to reduce its 1-800 phone services, which would exacerbate the difficulty seniors and people with disabilities would face in claiming their benefits,” the lawmakers continued.

Several Department of Labor (DOL) office leases in Illinois also were terminated, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office in Naperville, Illinois and the Wage and Hour Division office in Springfield, Illinois. These closures will make it more difficult for Illinoisans to report workplace incidents and file confidential complaints against employers who violate wage and child labor laws, as well as health and safety standards. Further, the termination of the Small Business Administration (SBA) office lease in Springfield, Illinois, along with a March 6, 2025, announcement that SBA plans to relocate its Chicago regional office, could leave Illinois without an SBA office at all. This decision would complicate Illinois small businesses' ability to access SBA loan programs, disaster recovery loans and federal contracts crucial to their livelihoods.

In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).

The Congressional delegation requested GSA respond to a number of outstanding questions by April 4, 2025.

A copy of the full letter is available here.

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