WATERTOWN S.D. — The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by multi-billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk, has announced the first real estate cut in South Dakota.
According to DOGE’s website, the Codington County Farm Services Agency and the Coddington County Conservation District in Watertown will be the first real estate closure in South Dakota.
According to DOGE, the annual lease cost for the agency was $238,328 and the total savings from the cut will be $278,049. “Termination details are still being finalized. The lessor and customer have been notified, and the strategy is under development,” the DOGE website says about the Watertown closure.
KELOLAND News reached out to both the Codington County Farm Services Agency and the Conservation District for any comment about the closure, they replied saying they have no comment at this time.
KELOLAND News also reached out to the Codington County Conservation District, which shares its location with the Farm Service agency, as of now they are waiting for more information and they also had no comment at this time.
Last week, Gov. Larry Rhoden said he’s encouraging South Dakota counties to be looking for efficiencies in their own governments.
“In the light of DOGE and the Chevron Case, that opens opportunities for us to find efficiencies in state government, working with the federal government, and I believe the counties should do the same thing” Rhoden said. “Whenever we have had a downturn in our economy, we have had to make tough decisions.”
Earlier this month, Rhoden said state officials aren’t notified when federal employees have been fired. He also pointed out South Dakota state government has plenty of job openings.
In related news, the Natural Resources Committee in Washington, D.C., released information regarding Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and U.S. Department of the Interior office locations closing.
Specifically, BIA and National Indian Gaming Commission offices in Rapid City are scheduled to close as well as offices on the Crow Creek and Sissteon Wahpeton Reservations.
According to DOGE, the cuts could amount to nearly $2.5 million in savings.
Below is a list, as of March 3, 2025, of South Dakota closures listed on the site and their annual lease cost.
- Farm Service Agency, Watertown ($238,328)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rapid City ($52,911)
- Office of the Secretary, Sioux Falls ($67,904)
- Geological Survey, Huron ($140,835)
- Department of Labor, Sioux Falls ($56,165)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Thompson ($58,976)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sisseton ($180,008)
- Small Business Administration ($86,777)
- Mine Safety Health Administration, Rapid City ($56,072)
- National Park Service, Yankton ($175,268)
- Office of Hearing and Appeals, Rapid City ($53,198)
- National Indian Gamin Commission, Rapid City ($43,938)
- Departmental Management (IG), Sioux Falls ($28,749)
