05-03-2025
2 federal sites in Sault Ste. Marie on DOGE closure list; both house tribal services
SAULT STE. MARIE — As part of the sweeping efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to reduce federal spending, two buildings in Sault Ste. Marie are set to close.
The sites appear on the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) "Wall of Receipts" under a list of federal properties with upcoming lease terminations.
According to DOGE, the Indian Health Services Sanitation office has an annual lease of $34,375, providing a total savings of $85,937. The local Bureau of Indian Affairs office at 2845 Ashmun St. is the other site slated for closure.
The two buildings house services that are intended to help enhance the quality of life for tribal members and create economic opportunities for Native Americans and Alaska natives.
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Officials from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians are still in the process of investigating how much the building closures will impact services going forward.
Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes said he is concerned about the lack of communication from DOGE regarding the closures.
"It's unclear at this time whether that means the offices will be permanently closed, if they will relocate to a different location or if the leases will be renegotiated," Lowes said in a statement on Facebook. "Tribes don't know because we weren't consulted by this administration prior to the closure announcement, which is an obvious problem."
Lowes also noted that the Sault Tribe Health Division is not directly impacted by these closures.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: 2 federal office sites in Sault Ste. Marie on DOGE list to close
