DOGE website now lists Social Security Administration office in Wausau among savings

Yahoo

07-03-2025

WAUSAU − President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has listed a real estate property in Wausau on its website as evidence of its work to 'maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.'
A search under the "Real Estate" section of the website lists "Social Security Administration" in Wausau, Wisconsin, as part of its cost-savings measures. The site shows the office space is 1,851 square feet with an annual lease cost of $34,211 and a 'total savings' of $48,466 is listed, however, specifics on how that value was determined is not provided. Clicking the listing for more information shows "True Termination" and that the agency has closed the office.
'We are working with GSA to review our leases and ensure they are used efficiently' a Social Security Administration spokesperson said in an email to a Wausau Daily Herald reporter. 'Most of the leases we are not renewing are for small remote hearing sites that are co-located with other Federal space. As the majority of our hearings are held virtually, we no longer need as many in-person hearings locations.'
In 2024, 20% of the SSA's offices held zero in-person meetings, according to the spokesperson. Other offices set to close include those that 'are non-public facing, being consolidated into nearby locations, or we had planned to close,' according to the spokesperson.
'Social Security continuously monitors and evaluates the use of our office space to maximize efficiency for the American taxpayer,' the spokesperson said.
Additional questions from a Wausau Daily Herald reporter to the Social Security Administration this week about impacts to employees or specific services provided at the Wausau office were not addressed.
A further search of the U.S. General Services Administration database of federal government property leases revealed a lease matching the listed square footage located in Dudley Tower at 500 N. First St. The lease began Nov. 13, 2013, and was set to expire or be renewed by Nov. 17, 2026.
A second lease is also listed at the same address for 2,300 square feet of office space at an annual rent of $54,986. The lease for this property began Aug. 26, 2010, and is set to expire or be renewed by Aug. 25, 2025. This lease is not listed on the DOGE website as of March 7.
The lessor of each property is listed as First Wausau Tower LLC. A Wausau Daily Herald reporter made multiple calls and emails in an attempt to speak with the property management company but was unsuccessful.
A March 4 news release by the U.S. General Services Administration explained its actions to dispose of 'non-core assets.' It describes 'core assets" as 'courthouses, land ports of entry, and facilities critical to our national defense and law enforcement' while non-core assets 'primarily consist of office space.'
The release says the agency 'owns and maintains over 440 non-core assets comprising almost 80 million rentable square feet across the nation and representing over $8.3 billion in recapitalization needs.' Inadequate funding over time have made these buildings obsolete and the agency is working to dispose of the assets in a way that 'leverages the private sector, drives improvements for our agency customers, and best serves local communities,' according to the release.
The agency 'welcomes creative solutions, including sale-lease backs, ground leases and other forms of public/private partnerships to drive the full optimization of our space while delivering our federal employees the high quality work environments they need to fulfill their missions,' according to the release.
In February, the DOGE website also listed "Defense Contract Management Agency-National" in Merrill, Wisconsin, as part of its cost-savings measures. The site shows the office space is 393 square feet and a value of $6,067 is listed. According to City Administrator Rod Akey, the agency has rented space on the second floor of Merrill City Hall for at least 15 years and paid the listed $6,067 annually. Both Akey and a spokeperson for the Defense Contract Management Agency told a Wausau Daily Herald reporter in February that despite the closure being listed among savings on the DOGE website, the decision to close the office was made prior to the creation of DOGE and it was not mandated by the newly-created executive branch agency.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: DOGE in Wisconsin: Social Security Administration office in Wausau