Spending cuts tied to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have reached Nebraska.
An exclusive AP report Friday revealed that the General Services Administration (GSA) in collaboration with DOGE will terminate the lease for a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office in south Lincoln — one of nearly 800 federal offices to be vacated. The office’s lease was set to end August 31.
Three other federal offices in Nebraska will also see their leases terminated: a Small Business Administration and a Food and Drug Administration office in Omaha, as well as the Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center, operated by the National Park Service, in Valentine.
Per the report, these lease terminations do not mean all the locations will close. In some cases, agencies may negotiate new leases to stay in place, downsize their existing space or relocate elsewhere.
Workers at the Lincoln office told KLIN News they were unaware of their office’s fate. They could only share a statement “attributable to a USDA spokesperson,” as NRCS operates under the USDA. They added that they learned of the lease termination through media reports.
“Secretary Rollins fully supports President Trump’s directive to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. USDA is optimizing building capacity and consolidating underutilized offices to reduce inefficiencies while continuing to prioritize frontline services for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” the full statement said.
This field office serves Lancaster County farmers and ranchers, providing a space for in-person meetings with officials to navigate assistance programs. Other USDA offices and agricultural research centers also operate in Lincoln.
DOGE estimates the move will save roughly $500 million over the lease terms. The 793 selected leases, some ending as far as next decade, were mostly targeted because they could be terminated within on short notice without penalty.
Three office in Iowa were also on the list: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa in Sioux City, the Indianola Service Center operated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Indianola, Iowa, and the Federal Highway Administration office in Ames.
Chase Porter, KLIN News