CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — In a welcome turn of events, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas will remain in its downtown Corpus Christi location after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rescinded its initial plan to end the lease.
Last month, DOGE announced that it would be terminating the office lease at 800 N. Shoreline Blvd., Suite 500, in the One Shoreline Plaza South Tower. The Department of Government Efficiency announced the plan as part of a broader strategy to reduce federal real estate expenses, identifying over 800 agencies nationwide for lease cancellation or renegotiation.
Office Saved From Cost-Cutting Measures
The 17,039-square-foot office costs the federal government $409,689 annually, according to the DOGE website. The planned closure was projected to save $307,267 per year. Yet, it would have also disrupted vital federal operations in the region.
According to Matt Cravey, president of Cravey Real Estate Services Inc., the leasing company for One Shoreline Plaza, the cancellation notice was unexpectedly reversed within a week. “It’s good news,” said Cravey. “It just didn’t make sense to us to be canceling that office.”
Impact of Closure Would Have Been Significant
The potential closure sparked concern across the local legal and government service community. The United States Attorney’s Office lease in Corpus Christi plays a vital role in serving over 555,000 residents across 10 counties, including Nueces, San Patricio, and Kleberg.
With over 200 attorneys across the Southern District of Texas, the office handles federal prosecutions and legal matters in an area that stretches from Houston to the Mexican border — covering 43 counties and 44,000 square miles.
Cravey said, “This isn’t just about office space, it’s about jobs, services, and the ability to uphold justice in a fast-paced, high-demand district.”
GSA Provides Clarification
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal leases and government buildings, initially issued the termination memo. However, shortly afterward, the GSA released a follow-up directive asking property owners to disregard the original notice.
A statement from the GSA’s Greater Southwest Region clarified the agency’s ongoing efforts to optimize the government’s real estate footprint:
“A component of our space consolidation plan will be the termination of many soft-term leases. Where these terminations affect public-facing facilities, we are working with our agency partners to secure suitable alternative space.”
Federal Suppliers Advised to Stay Alert
Cravey emphasized that any entity doing business with the federal government should remain vigilant. “This came out of nowhere,” he noted. “It’s a reminder that anything can change quickly, and people need to be ready for those changes.”
He also pointed out that a closure would have had a domino effect, impacting not only the federal employees but also property owners, lenders, and service providers tied to the office operations.
Other Closures Still Planned
Despite the good news for Corpus Christi, DOGE has confirmed closures in other cities, including Lufkin, TX; Toledo, OH; Muskogee, OK; and Sioux City, IA. However, no other federal agencies in Corpus Christi appear to be affected at this time.
Community Reaction
While the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not provide a comment, Cravey summarized the relief felt across the city:
“It means something for a lot of people — that everybody still has their jobs, and vital federal services continue without interruption.”