One of our subscribers submitted a request for DBUNK to verify a claim published by Newsweek about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) terminating the lease for a U.S. Attorney’s Office in Corpus Christi, Texas, and whether this decision was linked to border wall construction. With misinformation spreading rapidly, we took a deep dive into the facts.
Breaking Down the Article’s Claims
The article, published by Newsweek on February 28, 2025, claims that DOGE, under the leadership of billionaire Elon Musk, abruptly shut down a key office that handles land condemnation for the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The implication throughout the piece is that this decision could severely disrupt border security operations.
What We Found
The claim that DOGE shut down an office “responsible for building the border wall” is misleading. According to federal records reviewed by DBUNK, the office in question—the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Corpus Christi—handles multiple federal cases, including land condemnation proceedings for the border wall, but that is only a part of its broader responsibilities. The primary function of the office is prosecuting federal crimes stemming from nearby Border Patrol checkpoints.
Furthermore, the article fails to provide any direct evidence that the lease termination was explicitly motivated by a desire to hamper border wall efforts. While the lease cancellation may cause disruptions to various operations, Newsweek does not substantiate the assertion that border wall construction is the primary reason for concern.
Did Employees’ Remote Work Habits Play a Role?
Some have speculated that this closure might be linked to employees not utilizing the office space, instead working remotely. However, DBUNK could not find any official statements from DOGE or relevant federal agencies confirming this as a factor in the decision-making process. The reasoning behind the closure remains ambiguous, and Newsweek does not provide concrete proof to support one particular motive over another.
What’s the Real Impact?
The closure could indeed pose logistical challenges, especially for prosecutors handling immigration and drug-related cases. Nonetheless, the claim that this move will directly impair border wall construction lacks substantiation. Given that DOGE’s cost-cutting measures have impacted multiple federal offices across various jurisdictions, there is no conclusive proof that this specific lease termination was politically targeted towards halting border security initiatives.
Additionally, Newsweek’s article omits details regarding whether or not new accommodations are being arranged for affected employees and whether work will be disrupted permanently or if a new office lease is being secured.
Final Verdict
While the closure of this office may create temporary legal disruptions, the article’s framing gives an exaggerated sense that the move directly halts border wall progress. The omission of alternative explanations—such as potential office relocations or a broader government effort to reduce expenditures—creates a misleading impression.
Did DOGE close a federal office? Yes. Was this office explicitly responsible for “building” the border wall? No, its role was broader. Is this part of a widespread effort to cut costs rather than being specifically targeted at stopping border initiatives? That remains unclear due to a lack of direct evidence.
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