ST. LOUIS — Federal agencies with employees in the ѿý region had few answers Monday on what impacts — if any — they’ll face after the White House tasked its Department of Government Efficiency to curb waste.
Renovation of the Old Courthouse, downtown, across from the Gateway Arch National Park, is continuing, a spokesperson said. Construction is still underway at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s new western headquarters, at Jefferson and Cass avenues in ѿý, the NGA said, and the agency is assessing budget-cutting requests.
Other federal agencies here didn’t respond to requests for comment or gave few details.
Still, some who work with federal agencies said the worry is real.
“The Arch is one of the main attractions in ѿý,” said Ryan McClure, executive director of the nonprofit Gateway Arch Park Foundation. “If we see a reduction in visitor hours, or a change in the visitor experience, then that’s a real economic impact to ѿý and the bi-state region.”
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The confusion comes since the Trump administration offered buyouts to all federal employees, halted work at some agencies and laid off probationary workers, or those who had been at their job for less than two years. And more turmoil erupted this past weekend after federal employees were told to provide five bullet points detailing what they accomplished last week.
“Those who do not take this email seriously will soon be furthering their career elsewhere,” Elon Musk posted on X, his social media platform. Musk has been spearheading DOGE efforts as a top adviser to President Donald Trump.
The federal government employs roughly 25,000 people in the ѿý area, at agencies like the Department of Agriculture, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Most of the workers here are located in Missouri Congressional District 1, which includes most of ѿý, and Illinois Congressional District 12, which includes Scott Air Force Base and most of St. Clair County.
A spokesperson for Scott Air Force Base referred questions to a in which the agency said it would review its civilian probationary workforce nationwide, estimated to be around 5,800, and aims to reduce it by up to 8%.
“We believe in the goals of the program, and our leaders are carrying out that review carefully and smartly,” Darin Selnick, who is performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a statement.
In north ѿý, construction is underway at NGA’s new western headquarters — a nearly $2 billion endeavor that’s the largest federal investment ever in city history. A spokesperson confirmed the project will not be impacted by the federal cuts but did say its employees had been offered buyouts. The agency did not yet have an official total. Employees are expected to begin to move in the new facility, at Jefferson and Cass avenues, this fall.
Seven miles northeast, in Normandy, it was unclear whether construction of a new USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service facility is affected. The project’s builder did not answer whether work had been interrupted and referred questions to the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversees federal real estate.
A GSA spokesperson said the agency doesn’t comment on personnel matters and added that the GSA is reviewing all options to “optimize” its footprint.
Several employee unions cautioned its members not to take the buyouts, saying the deferred resignation program had no legal standing. A federal judge earlier this month paused the program.
As of Monday afternoon, there was no official total of those impacted.
Attorneys representing unions, businesses, veterans and conservation organizations filed an updated lawsuit in federal court in California on Monday, arguing Musk had violated the law with the bullet-point request, sent by the Office of Personnel Management and due by day’s end Monday.
But by Monday afternoon, the OPM said the email was “voluntary,” according to The New York Times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated which counties are in Illinois Congressional District 12.
President Donald Trump praised his rapid policy changes, applauding Elon Musk and his DOGE team for cutting federal agencies. Watch in for more details!
