Oregon Senators Wyden, Merkley urge Trump admin to pause sale of federal buildings

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Amid the Trump administration’s efforts to slash federal spending, Oregon’s senators are asking the administration to pause plans to sell several federal buildings in Oregon.

On Monday, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to General Services Administration Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian with concerns over the administration’s decision to end federal real estate leases and proposals to sell federal buildings, including buildings in Baker City, Eugene, Medford, Portland and Troutdale.

The senators argue that having federal employees in communities is essential to serving Oregonians.

“The reality is clear: this is not about saving money—it’s about destabilizing the effectiveness of federal programs without thought or care for how that will affect working people,” the senators wrote. “The widespread closure of federal offices will cause pervasive financial and logistical challenges for small businesses, local governments, public servants, and communities across Oregon.”

“Slashing office space at this scale does not just impact federal employees—it hurts Oregonians who rely on the services that these agencies provide,” the senators continued. “From farmers and ranchers with questions about Farm Service Agency resources, to families accessing Social Security services, and to community members needing to send and receive mail through the Post Office, these closures will force people to travel farther and wait longer for essential assistance. The public servants, who live, shop, and raise families in these communities play a crucial role in the communities where they serve. Pulling these people and services out of Oregon towns will send ripple effects through local economies, making it harder for small businesses and working families to stay afloat.”

The senators concluded their letter by asking the acting GSA administrator to reverse efforts to close the federal buildings.

“Oregonians deserve a government that is present in their communities, not one that abandons them. Before moving forward with any lease terminations or building closures, the GSA must provide complete and tailored justifications for each proposed sale and lease cancellation, a clear plan to ensure that federal employees can continue their work, guarantees that communities will not lose easy and affordable access to essential services, and that local economies will not suffer sudden changes at the whims of the GSA and an unelected billionaire running DOGE,” Wyden and Merkley said, referencing White House advisor Elon Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency to cut federal funding.

KOIN 6 News reached out to the General Services Administration. This story will be updated if we receive a response.

LIST: Trump administration lists 10 Oregon federal buildings for potential sale

The letter comes as KOIN 6 News previously reported that President Trump is considering the sale of 10 federal office buildings in Oregon, which were previously named in GSA’s list of 320 “non-core” properties posted on its website.

“We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties, for disposal,” GSA’s web page reads. “Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces. Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions.”

The buildings range from a Medford courthouse and United States Geological Survey buildings to the 911 Federal Building in Portland, which houses the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Center and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to GSA.