It appears the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE, has recommended the closure of the nearly 10-year-old Flight 93 National Memorial Learning Center as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce federal government spending.
Among the more than 600 lease terminations listed at the DOGE website is a 2,361-square-foot building in Somerset, Pennsylvania, leased by the National Park Service. According to a lease cancellation post dated March 3, DOGE claims the National Park Service pays $29,693 per year to lease the building, and canceling this lease would save the federal government a total of $86,720.
What is the building’s purpose?
The Flight 93 National Memorial Learning Center provides space to hold meetings, educational programs and events. This is one of over 600 building leases the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, recommends to eliminate nationwide.
The Flight 93 National Memorial Learning Center opened to the public on Sept. 10, 2015, as “a multi-purpose gathering space for education, programming and special events,” according to a National Park Service media announcement at the time the center opened.
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The Flight 93 National Memorial’s Visitor Center also opened on the same day, but to date, it has not been targeted by DOGE for closure.
This is a screenshot from the DOGE website that provides lease information about the Flight 93 National Memorial Learning Center and the DOGE’s recommendation to cancel the lease.
The Daily American emailed the National Park Service for more information, asking for confirmation of the building’s location, its annual and total lease cost, and from whom the building is leased.
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The National Park Service Office of Public Affairs did not answer those specific questions, but provided this statement:
“This location is used for meetings, trainings and by park partners, as well as a Flight 93 National Memorial learning studio. We are actively working with GSA (the General Services Administration) to ensure that every facility and asset is utilized effectively, and where necessary, identifying alternative solutions that strengthen our mission. These efforts reflect our broader commitment to streamlining government operations while ensuring that conservation efforts remain strong, effective and impactful.
“This process is ongoing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Flight 93 Learning Center among DOGE lease cut targets