Ruby-Red Oklahoma Hit by Deep DOGE Cuts - Newsweek

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Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. Andrew joined Newsweek in 2021 from The Boston Globe. He is a graduate of Emerson College.

Oklahoma, a ruby red state that backed President Donald Trump by more than 34 points in the last election, is among the states affected by cuts selected by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Trump signed an executive order establishing DOGE, an advisory task force led by Elon Musk, on his first day back in the White House, tasking it with "modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity."

While conservatives praise DOGE as a means to cut what they view as waste in the federal government, critics have argued these cuts will diminish critical services for Americans, including social security.

So far, hundreds of federal workers have been fired, and more than 700 federal offices are being shut down across the country as a result of these cuts. States that favor Trump and Republicans, such as Oklahoma, are not being spared amid the concerns these cuts will have on Americans and local economies.

What to Know

According to DOGE's "Wall of Receipts," at least 15 federal offices are set to be shuttered in Oklahoma over the coming months as Musk seeks to save money by terminating rental leases.

DOGE states that terminating these leases in Oklahoma could result in $3.7 million in savings each years, but critics are raising concerns about the impacts of these cuts.

One of the offices included on the list matches a lease for an administrative building of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Radar Operations System in Norman.

It's unclear exactly what this will entail, as NOAA has not said whether these workers will be shifted to another facility or terminated.

Meanwhile, five Bureau of Indian Affairs offices are set to close. According to Tribal Business News, one of these locations had been empty for years, meaning its closure will have less of an impact. But in Seminole, seven employees lost their jobs over the closures.

A Social Security Administration office in Lawton is also set to close. In Oklahoma City, the largest in the state, facilities on the list included an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, an Indian Health Service office, International Trade Administration office and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration office.

A Department of Housing and Human Development facility and Office of Surface Mining and Regulation Enforcement office in Tulsa are on the list, as well as the Office of U.S. Attorneys in Muskogee and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Broken Bow.

There have also been layoffs at Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, a key FAA facility in Oklahoma that is a regional hub for training facilities. The Trump administration has said FAA layoffs won't be affecting its most crucial operations, but many are concerned.

"We're all concerned about safety. And I've talked to people, and people are nervous," said Senator Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, reported Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma City-based news station KFOR reported that workers at Tinker Air Force Base are concerned about potential layoffs, but there have been no reports of any so far.

Senator James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, told KFOR the base wouldn't be able to "operate if we lose 600 civilian employees."

"We will not be able to keep aircraft in the air long term for the Air Force. That is really important for us to be able to have. The same thing in McAlester. If we remove a thousand civilians there, we won't be able to operate," he said.

What People Are Saying

Representative Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, to KFOR: "As a resident of Moore, I know firsthand how important the National Weather Center in Norman is. The center saves lives by alerting the American people when a tornado, hurricane, or any other severe storm is coming their way. Therefore, my staff and I are in contact with the Administration to ensure that they understand how valuable and vital the National Weather Center is—especially with storm season right around the corner. I am confident once all the facts are known, the National Weather Center will remain operational and in Oklahoma."

Lankford to KFOR: "I don't agree that you just come in and blanket remove. But I would tell you, if you work in a corporate entity in America, that's typical. A probationary employee, the executive branch is allowed to be able to remove them. And so what we're trying to be able to push on is, OK, I know that's permissible for you to be able to remove that person. Are you going to rehire for that same position? Is this the right person to be able to remove? Many of those positions we still need. And so we're already seeing secretaries step up and press back on this."

What Happens Next

It's unclear what other potential DOGE cuts are planned for the future.