Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden called on the General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian to pause the cancelation of real estate property leases and sale of federal properties in Oregon and around the country.
Their letter builds on the Senators’ demand for the Trump Administration to explain why it is rushing to sell off federal properties paid for by taxpayers in Baker City, Eugene, Medford, Portland, Troutdale, and other locations around Oregon. Having federal employees, resources, and staff located in Oregon communities is essential, and the Senators have been calling out the GSA’s hasty actions—both the mass firings of GSA employees in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest who manage and maintain the federal buildings—as well as disposing of the buildings altogether, as attempts to disrupt the effectiveness of federal programs.
“The reality is clear: this is not about saving money—it’s about destabilizing the effectiveness of federal programs without thought or care for how that will affect working people,” the Senators stressed. “The widespread closure of federal offices will cause pervasive financial and logistical challenges for small businesses, local governments, public servants, and communities across Oregon.”
There has been no transparency about how the closures of federal buildings—pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) run by unelected billionaire Elon Musk—will impact the ability of agencies to carry out their mission or what plans, if any, are in place to maintain service for Oregonians. Further, the closures come on the heels of the Trump Administration requiring federal employees to return to the office, adding even more uncertainty and confusion for workers, families, and local businesses.
“Slashing office space at this scale does not just impact federal employees—it hurts Oregonians who rely on the services that these agencies provide,” continuaron los senadores. “From farmers and ranchers with questions about Farm Service Agency resources, to families accessing Social Security services, and to community members needing to send and receive mail through the Post Office, these closures will force people to travel farther and wait longer for essential assistance. The public servants, who live, shop, and raise families in these communities play a crucial role in the communities where they serve. Pulling these people and services out of Oregon towns will send ripple effects through local economies, making it harder for small businesses and working families to stay afloat.”
The Senators concluded by calling for the reckless closures to be reversed: “Oregonians deserve a government that is present in their communities, not one that abandons them. Before moving forward with any lease terminations or building closures, the GSA must provide complete and tailored justifications for each proposed sale and lease cancellation, a clear plan to ensure that federal employees can continue their work, guarantees that communities will not lose easy and affordable access to essential services, and that local economies will not suffer sudden changes at the whims of the GSA and an unelected billionaire running DOGE.”
Full text of the letter with questions to Acting Administrator Ehikian can be found by clicking aquí.
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