Antonio Responds to Potential Cleveland Federal Building Closure

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) responded to reports that the federal government may close the Anthony J. Celebrezze (AJC) Federal Building in Downtown Cleveland. 

“We need to make sure that every possible option is explored to protect the federal employees who work at AJC and the critical services the federal government provides to our community,” said Antonio. “While the government argues that leasing office space is more cost-effective than repairing the AJC building, the real cost may be potential job losses or reduced services in our area. The shift towards private leases could leave workers without the support they need and may even reduce the number of federal employees here in Cleveland.”

The General Services Administration (GSA) has suggested that the building, which houses over 4,000 federal employees, will be shuttered due to a $175 million backlog in repairs, opting instead to lease space in private buildings downtown. This comes as the federal government moves forward with plans to eliminate remote work options and cut federal jobs, under its so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives.