WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) urged Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Stephen Ehikian not to cancel leases for several National Park Service buildings. GSA’s proposed lease cancellations include the headquarters of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the park’s visitor center at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

“We are very concerned about the Government Services Administration’s (GSA) proposed cancellation of leases for several National Park Service buildings, including the headquarters of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the park’s visitor center at the Science Museum of Minnesota,” wrote the Senators.

“Established by Congress in 1988, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a 72-mile river park that offers fishing, boating and canoeing, birdwatching, bicycling, and hiking,” the Senators continued. “The center serves as a gateway for thousands of visitors seeking to learn about Mississippi River culture, biology, and history. In addition, visitors to the area generate roughly $22 million in economic activity.”

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Administrator Ehikian,

We are very concerned about the Government Services Administration’s (GSA) proposed cancellation of leases for several National Park Service buildings, including the headquarters of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the park’s visitor center at the Science Museum of Minnesota. 

Established by Congress in 1988, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a 72-mile river park that offers fishing, boating and canoeing, birdwatching, bicycling, and hiking. The center serves as a gateway for thousands of visitors seeking to learn about Mississippi River culture, biology, and history. In addition, visitors to the area generate roughly $22 million in economic activity. 

The federal government has a responsibility not only to protect our national parks, but to maintain them. We are prepared to work with anyone to save taxpayer money and make the federal government more effective. However, we should not put park safety, park visitor centers, and educational efforts at risk. This center helps to protect this natural land, water, and habitat so that Minnesotans and visitors from across the country can experience all the park has to offer.

As such, we request you provide written answers to the following questions by March 14, 2025:

1.  What plans, if any, do you have to terminate the leases for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area headquarters and the park’s visitor center at the Science Museum of Minnesota?

2.  Did any decision to terminate these leases comply with GSA’s standard procedures for lease termination?  Did this include any community engagement?

3.  What impact would these lease terminations have on park operations, including public safety?

4.  How does ending these leases affect the safety and environmental well-being of the Mississippi River?

5.  What offices and staff were involved in the lease termination decision? Please list out names and affiliations, including anyone from the “Department of Government Efficiency”. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

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