An online government list shows two federal real estate leases in Hampton Roads could be canceled. A third slated for cancellation was removed from the published termination list.
They are part of President Donald Trump’s effort to shrink the size of government and are handled under the recently created Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE published an online list displaying 676 potential U.S. lease terminations it claims would save about $400 million as of Wednesday. The savings amounts have not been verified, and the Associated Press has previously reported the online data has contained errors.
The canceled leases include a small National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration office at 1026 Settlers Landing Road in Hampton and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office at 6669 Short Lane in Gloucester, according to the DOGE website and information provided by the AP.
The Government Accountability Office’s Norfolk field office, at 5029 Corporate Woods Drive in Virginia Beach, was on the termination list, but has since been removed. GAO is a nonpartisan research agency for Congress on government operations that provides watchdog reports.
The field office was informed it was removed from the list and is continuing to monitor any impacts to the space, which is leased through 2028, said Sarah Kaczmarek, GAO’s managing director of public affairs.
“We are working to prepare for and address any changes to ensure we continue to have the space needed to conduct our oversight work,” she said in an email.
NOAA’s lease of 911 square feet for National Marine Fisheries Service offices on Hampton University property shows a “Batch 1” termination date effective June 30. The DOGE site said the annual lease costs $17,890, and put the total savings at $6,911. The local office staff referred questions to public relations contacts, and the landlord did not respond to emailed questions as of Wednesday.
On potential Trump cutting block: 2 Norfolk federal buildings
A spokesperson for the Government Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, provided a statement to The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press that said the agency is reviewing all options to optimize the federal footprint and building utilization.
“We are actively managing lease contracts by leveraging existing contract cancellation rights,” the statement said.
This gives GSA the opportunity to work with its partner agencies and possibly enhance space utilization, including better pricing, the agency said.
“In instances where the current space remains the most suitable option — whether temporarily or longer term— we are adjusting our approach,” the statement said. “For these agencies, we are either rescinding termination notices or, in some cases, not issuing them at all.”
In a lot of situations but not all, a lease signed with a federal government agency may include rights of termination or early termination with a notice provision and a penalty to maintain flexibility for the agency in case of funding issues, said Nathan Shor, a senior vice president and partner at S.L. Nusbaum Realty.
“There is no perfect formula and every transaction is different, whether it’s a government agency or a private company,” Shor said.
While Shor said the provisions are rarely exercised — as the agencies typically let leases expire rather than terminate them — terminations may occur to save money if agencies find they have too much square footage or aren’t using the buildings properly.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s lease of a 11,281-square-foot space for a Virginia Ecological Services Field Office in Gloucester shows a “termination via mass mod” on the DOGE website. The website did not clearly list the effective termination date, although a document obtained by the AP listed it as Sept. 30. AP obtained and shared information on the effective date from an internal March 10 planning document from the General Services Administration.
DOGE claims the termination of the lease for the agency’s Gloucester location, leased annually for $308,963, would save the government a total of $493,494, according to the website.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t answer questions for details but said in a statement it remains committed to serving communities, tribes and conservation partners while upholding federal responsibilities with efficiency and accountability.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are prioritizing strategic reforms to maximize resources, cut waste and enhance operational effectiveness across our facilities,” the statement said.
The agency said it is actively working with the General Services Administration to ensure that every facility and asset is utilized effectively and, where necessary, identifying alternative solutions.
To view the DOGE list, visit doge.gov/savings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
