President Trump thanked Elon Musk and DOGE for “ending the flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars.”
The Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) most recent efforts to reduce federal spending includes the elimination of several office space leases in Philadelphia.
In late February 2025, DOGE publicly listed eight federal properties across Delaware, New Jersey, and Philadelphia as part of its cost-saving initiatives. This list included a Philadelphia location previously utilized by the U.S. Secret Service. The annual lease costs for these properties varied, with some reaching up to $528,160.
The General Services Administration (GSA) identified over 400 federal properties nationwide as “non-core,” indicating potential closures or sales. In Philadelphia, notable properties on this list included the Mid Atlantic Social Security Center on Spring Garden Street, the U.S. Custom House on Chestnut Street, and the Veterans Administration Center on Wissahickon Avenue.
Seven locations in Delaware and Philadelphia have been added to a list created by the Department of Government Efficiency as places where the Trump administration can save money. @LaurenJMayk reports. https://t.co/NBltntYTri
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) February 26, 2025
At 1617 John F. Kennedy Blvd, the Securities Exchange Commission’s lease is costing taxpayers more than $1 million a year. It has been identified as among leases targeted for elimination. It was recently reported that SEC employees at the Philadelphia office space received notification that the lease will be ended later this year.
The GSA’s rationale for these potential disposals is to eliminate maintenance costs associated with underutilized federal spaces and to reinvest the proceeds into more efficient work environments that align with agency missions.
During his address to Congress last week, President Trump thanked Elon Musk, who is heading up DOGE, for his efforts in “ending the flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars.”
In Pennsylvania, at least 45 federal contracts with local companies have been canceled. The future of the federal properties listed as “non-core” remains uncertain. While their inclusion on the list suggests potential sale or repurposing, the GSA has not provided specific timelines or detailed plans for these properties.
DOGE’s initiatives to curtail federal spending through lease terminations and property sales in Philadelphia reflect a broader strategy to streamline government operations. The temporary agency, which is set to fold July 4, 2026, claims to have saved $55 billion overall since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
