Dozens of federal offices across California targeted for closure under Elon Musk’s DOGE
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DOGE EYES CALIFORNIA OFFICES FOR CLOSURE
More than five dozen federal offices in California are on the new Department of Government Efficiency’s chopping block.
DOGE – led by billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk – is carrying out President Donald Trump’s mission to shrink the federal government. It has laid off thousands of federal workers and says it has canceled billions of dollars in contracts.
Among the 748 potential lease terminations listed on the DOGE website as of Thursday are 64 in California, which are located in all corners of the Golden State, from Yreka to San Diego.
They include a 315 square-foot office in Chico for the Small Business Administration that leases for just $7,560 per year and a $2.4 million, 58,000 square-foot office space for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Los Angeles. According to Bloomberg, the SEC notified staff this week it would terminate leases for the office in L.A. and another in Philadelphia.
Also listed is a 20,000 square-foot office for the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, which the agency vacated last year to move to a new location in nearby Mountain View.
All told, the California leases in DOGE’s crosshairs add up to $20.5 million annually.
DOGE claims to have so far found $105 billion in federal savings, though an NPR review of the posted receipts found the agency has vastly overstated expected savings.
It’s unclear how the planned office closures will align with Trump’s executive order calling federal workers back into the office full-time.
Here are federal offices in the Sacramento area targeted for closure on DOGE’s website, along with their annual lease cost:
General Services Administration, Auburn, $31,025
Unnamed agency office, Folsom, $39,208
Small Business Administration, Chico, $7,560
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Woodland, $117,085
Farm Service Agency- State, Madera, $115,740
Internal Revenue Service National Office, Stockton, $352,524
Mine Safety Health Administration, Vacaville, $348,025
Bureau of Prisons, Stockton, $1,160,491
Internal Revenue Service National Office, Visalia, $208,585
Internal Revenue Service National Office, Modesto, $234,073
Civil Corps of Engineers, Davis, $508,914
NEWSOM’S BUDGET WON’T COVER FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Students are increasingly taking advantage of California’s universal school meals program, which offers free breakfast and lunch to every K-12 child.
Between the 2022 and 2023 academic years, schools served 9% more breakfasts and nearly 4% more lunches even though overall school enrollment declined, according to a report by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Even though Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed an additional $84 million for the program, the LAO predicts it won’t be enough to cover the 5% expected growth in school meals and recommends appropriating $32 million more.
The universal school meals program began in 2022 when Newsom and lawmakers used part of a historic $100 billion surplus to fund two free meals for all students.
The program has stuck, but the state has done a poor job of estimating its true annual growth and costs: for three years in a row, the Department of Finance has approved budget augmentations for school meals, according to the report.
In the current budget year, it will cost the state $1.8 billion to cover the meals not already subsidized by the federal government, which pays $2.7 billion for existing free and reduced lunch programs.
The LAO also recommends Newsom cut $150 million for kitchen infrastructure upgrades and training to support meals prepared fresh onsite. It notes the program has allocated $750 million in recent years, which some districts are still spending.
Studies have shown universal school meals reduce food insecurity and stigma and embarrassment related to eating school meals.
DEMS PREP FOR MIDTERMS
Via David Lightman
Five California Democratic congressmen are among 26 named by the party Thursday to get special attention and funding, as they’re regarded as being among the most vulnerable incumbents.
They’re called “frontliners” and are likely to be crucial in Democrats’ efforts to win a net of four house seats, a gain that would allow them to control the chamber.
Many are in congressional districts that have swung between parties or preferred President Donald Trump in the past.
The list includes Rep. Adam Gray, a Central Valley freshman who ousted incumbent Republican John Duarte last year by less than 200 votes. Trump won the district by about 5 percentage points.
Also on the list is Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy. Trump won his district by 1.8 percentage points. Harder won his race by 3.6 points.
Three other Californians are on the list—Reps. Dave Min of Irvine, George Whitesides of Palmdale and Derek Tran of Garden Grove.
Whitesides and Tran beat Republican incumbents, and Min won in a congressional district split between Democrats and Republicans.
Their designation as frontliners means the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will promote them and help them raise money and provide help.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Sometimes Gavin Newsom goes for the Profile in Courage, sometimes not. We woke up profoundly sickened and frustrated by these remarks.”
Sen. Caroline Menjivar and Asm. Chris Ward, leaders of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, criticize Newsom for saying trans women in sports is “deeply unfair” in the first episode of his new podcast.
Best of The Bee:
Gavin Newsom says he aligns with right on trans athletes in girls sports: ‘It’s deeply unfair’ via Lia Russell and David Lightman
What does the California resistance look like in a second Trump administration? via Jenavieve Hatch
Is bird flu slowing down in California? Here’s what public health experts told lawmakers via Kate Wolffe
The return-to-office question on California state workers’ minds: ‘Why now?’ via William Melhado and Stephen Hobbs
California state worker unions fight ‘inexplicable and unnecessary’ return-to-office order via William Melhado and Stephen Hobbs
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 4:55 AM with the headline "Dozens of federal offices across California targeted for closure under Elon Musk’s DOGE."
