Oklahoma City Federal Building faces uncertain future

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has designated the Oklahoma City Federal Building as a non-core property, a move that could lead to its sale, repurposing, or transfer. The decision is part of a nationwide effort to reduce government office space and cut costs.

The Oklahoma City Federal Building is described as a “national symbol of strength and resilience” on the agency’s website. The 181,000-square-foot office building was built to replace the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was destroyed by a bomb in 1995. A total of 168 people lost their lives in the bombing.

The GSA’s designation does not affect the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which serves as a permanent tribute to honor those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever on April 19, 1995.

Kari Watkins, President and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, released the following statement:

“We are surprised to learn on the eve of the 30th Anniversary month, the new federal building is on the disposal list since it includes the latest safety protocols and technology when it was built. After the bombing, it has been a battle to get all the agencies to return to one site. — As a reminder the Memorial and Museum located across the street, are privately owned and operated and are not subject to these decisions.” 

In a news release Tuesday, the GSA said it currently owns and maintains over 440 non-core assets comprising almost 80 million rentable square feet across the nation and representing over $8.3 billion in recapitalization needs.

The Oklahoma City Federal Building is the only property on the GSA’s list of non-core assets in Oklahoma.

“We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties for disposal. 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,” according to the GSA non-core property list.

Several federal buildings were determined to be critical for government operations, such as courthouses and ports of entry. Most federally owned assets deemed “not core” to government operations primarily consist of office space. The GSA list of completed transactions includes several federal office buildings.

No immediate changes will take place, but the GSA stated it will work with local stakeholders to determine the building’s future use. The agency indicated it will also conduct market research and gather customer agency feedback while considering current use, occupancy, cost of agency relocation, and local market conditions.

Oklahoma City Federal Building Faces Uncertain Future

During an interview with News 9's Washington Bureau Chief Alex Cameron, Congresswoman Stephanie Bice addressed the recent news.

Bice expressed skepticism about the decision, noting that many similar shutdown plans have been reversed upon closer review.

“This just happened late this afternoon, so we haven’t received a lot of information yet,” Bice said. “But what I would tell you is that there have been several instances over the last week or so where federal buildings were slated for closure, and then once there was a closer examination, those directives were rescinded. I think it’s going to be the same way for this.”

She emphasized the building’s importance, noting that it houses military personnel and is highly utilized.

“I don’t know that they have done the deep dive to be able to make the decisions that they really need to. I expect this to be rescinded,” Bice said. “I will fight to make sure that these important facilities within the 5th District continue to remain open.”

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