As DOGE Lease Terminations Hit Indian Country, Concerns Mount About Vital Services

Native American Law attorney James Meggesto was interviewed for a Tribal Business News article detailing how federal lease terminations are affecting Indian Country. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has begun reviewing agreements and cancelling leases across the country, including some for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offices that offer services for Tribes and Tribal governments. The developments follow an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo calling for a reduction in the federal government's real estate footprint as part of the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) larger initiative to cut the federal workforce and eliminate areas of unnecessary spending. Tribal advocates have warned about the disruption to vital services such as healthcare, education and support for farmers and ranchers with the shuttering of facilities. Mr. Meggesto echoed these concerns but added that certain leases would be difficult or even illegal to terminate, explaining that if a federally recognized tribe owns a building or the building is used for services related to self-governance, the contract is controlled by a separate statute outside of standard GSA procedures.

"If they were to breach that contract, that would not be legal, and tribes would have a pretty good case to seek reinstatement of the lease or damages or both," he said. "I think it would be disruptive obviously, and I think tribes would have a pretty good cause of action."

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