06-03-2025
Sen. Lankford takes questions on ongoing efforts by DOGE to downsize government
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) took questions from Oklahoma journalists discussing a wide variety of topics, from Tinker workforce cuts to the possibility of a government shutdown.
Lankford is pushing for his 'Prevent Government Shutdowns Act' which seeks to have government shutdowns no longer an option.
Lankford attended the Presidential Address to a joint session of Congress where the president laid out his policy plans.
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On the issue of immigration, Lankford, drilled down on national defense and foreign policy stating, 'If you go back a year and a half ago, we had 12,000 people a day. Now that number has dropped to less than 200.' Additionally stating, the drop is remarkable in a month as negotiating continues under the Trump presidency.
Sen. Lankford also noted that with the Trump agenda focus on immigration, Oklahomans still face the fentanyl and methamphetamine flow into the state as well as the country.
'Methamphetamine is still the biggest killer in Oklahoma of Oklahomans flowing exclusively from Mexico,' said Lankford.
Lankford also took questions on the possibility of DOGE terminating leases on federal buildings and programs. Many of the questions surround the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Weather Service, radar operations, and the Oklahoma City Federal Building.
Lankford says he is tracking the rumors and figuring out what is fiction and what is fact.
'I think they're running faster than they've had time to be able to investigate,' said Lankford.
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KFOR recently reported on rumors of layoffs at Tinker Air Force Base.
When KFOR sent Congressman Tom Cole information given to us indicating that layoffs were happening, we never received a statement.
Lankford says he discussed Tinker's workforce with the Department of Defense, Tinker leaders, and White House officials, saying that 600 probationary employees were or will be cut. Furthermore, Lankford confirmed he is trying to do a person-by-person check. He thinks that is too many jobs to cut at Tinker.
Lankford concluded while saying as the strategic process continues to develop, 'We are long overdue for a reinventing government, but we've got to be able to make sure we're doing it the right way. Tinker cannot operate if we lose 600 civilian employees there. We will not be able to keep aircraft in the air long-term for the Air Force. There's not 600 extra people that are in Tinker.'
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