KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) list of contracts being terminated grows with various businesses and agencies on the chopping block.
The Office of Workers’ Compensation Program with the Employment Standards Administration in Kennewick on Bradley Boulevard is on the list to close, saving the government over $53,000.
The list also includes other services being closed, such as the Toppenish Bureau of Indian Affairs Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Yakima and the Natural Resource Conservation Service in Dayton.
NonStop Local reached out to the General Services Administration (GSA) to inquire about the Richland office being on the list. They provided a statement via email:
GSA is reviewing all options to optimize the federal footprint and building utilization. We are actively managing lease contracts by leveraging existing contract cancellation rights. As leases enter their soft term, we are sending letters of intent to customer agencies to inform them GSA is considering lease termination (thereby exercising GSA’s contractual rights as agreed upon with our lessors). Actively managing leases gives GSA the opportunity to work closely with our partner agencies on their evolving and longer term needs and will often allow us to enhance space utilization and secure better terms for the government – including better pricing. In instances where the current space remains the most suitable option—whether temporarily or longer term—we are adjusting our approach. For these agencies, we are either rescinding termination notices or, in some cases, not issuing them at all.
These contractual cancellation rights are in accordance with regular and well-accepted private industry contracting processes. GSA’s letters of intent to terminate have no immediate effect and do not mean the lease has been terminated.
