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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — As the Department of Government Efficiency works to save the nation money by cutting federal funding, the future of several Harrisburg-based USDA departments is now uncertain.

DOGE’s website states it is ending the $714,397 lease for the Rural Housing Service in Harrisburg, saving a total of $119,066. Currently, it's unclear how many employees might be laid off, but this could also potentially lead to saving millions more in federal funds.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE |DOGE cuts starting to hit Pennsylvania government offices

It’s a development that came as a surprise to one USDA employee, who spoke with CBS 21 on the condition of anonymity out of fear of losing their job.

"They are scared, so hats off to the government. You've scared the federal employees," the worker said.

Communication has also been a point of frustration. The anonymous worker said they’ve found out about all of DOGE’s updates from the press and public.

Along with the significant cuts DOGE has made within the first six weeks of Trump's second term, it has also quickly rehired some people who have been let go.

"If they can prove to me that it was for the benefit of the American people, heck yeah, I would come back for that. They would have to reverse a lot of the things that have already been done," the source said. "Every government servant takes an oath, and if you ask any of the colleagues at the Harrisburg Office in USDA, they'll tell you they love their job. They love doing what they're doing for rural Pennsylvania."

The anonymous employee said it’s not just the Rural Housing Service that’s impacted by DOGE’s order—that just happens to be the name of the lease.

The building that houses the Rural Housing Service, located on 359 E. Park Drive, is also home to USDA departments like the PA Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The source said around 200-250 people work in that Harrisburg location.

“The folks here -- their salaries are not a lot, and I can’t imagine it making any difference to save taxpayer money,” the source said. "It makes absolutely no sense to me because it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the numbers that they're trying to get the government back on track with."

The source said every person at his workplace is key to the productivity of the department.

"Honestly, I think we were a little bit understaffed," the source said. "They're not only destroying these federal employees' lives in a lot of ways, they're also — there's a lot of people that depend on these programs."

The worker said that having a local office for departments like the Rural Housing Service is valuable because it better helps the services with those who need them. One of its programs, for example, helps elderly people with a fixed income apply for home repair grants they otherwise couldn’t afford.

Programs like this, the source believes, may eventually be centralized once the Harrisburg office is closed, and those who need the services may have to call a 1-800 number, for example, instead of speaking with a local worker.

As for workers’ morale inside the building set to close, the worker said it’s “horrible—as low as it could possibly be”.

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A USDA spokesperson released a statement to CBS 21 that reads as follows:

Secretary Rollins fully supports President Trump’s directive to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. USDA is optimizing building capacity and consolidating underutilized offices to reduce inefficiencies while continuing to prioritize frontline services for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. For further information regarding the termination of federal leases, please contact GSA.

In a release sent to the high school's parents, guardians and students, superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry said that Dr. Sieta Achampong's certification was inactive.

Credit: FOX43

HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Monday evening, the Harrisburg School District addressed the removal of the principal of Harrisburg High School's SciTech campus.

In response to discourse online and throughout the school community, Harrisburg School District superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry released a statement regarding Dr. Sieta Achampong's leaving the position of principal.

"While it is not our practice to comment on personnel matters, this issue extends beyond employee confidentiality as it impacts state compliance and involves information that is a matter of public record," Henry said.

In the release, Henry said that the district recently learned that Achampong's certification required of educators in the state was inactive. Pennsylvania School Code states that any educator with an inactive status is not in compliance with the Commonwealth's requirements.

As a result, Achampong was not eligible to be principal in any of Pa.'s public schools, except as a substitute, Henry said.

The PA Department of Education does provide emergency certification, but Henry said that it is only used when no other certified principals are available.

Henry added that Achampong had an eight-year window to complete necessary requirements to keep her certification, and she was notified throughout last year of her inactive status by the state's Department of Education. However, Henry said she did not notify the district, and she did not appeal to the Pa. Department of Education.

"After years of opportunity to maintain certification, and no attempt to communicate about this matter with the district, it would simply be irresponsible for the district to try to work around a key compliance issue like certification," Henry said.

Henry also addressed the district's decision to let Achampong teach at John Harris High School. However, he said that this had nothing to do with any reported health issues, and that she signed a consent to accept a change in position.

"It is important to me that as a school leader, I communicate with as much clarity and transparency as possible," Henry said. "I understand that not every decision will be popular or will be one that is embraced by our community. However, I hope you will trust that I am committed to moving our district forward, ensuring accountability and making decisions that I believe are in the best interest of our school system as a whole."

In a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday, Achampong responded to Henry's release regarding her dismissal. Achampong admitted to not being completely aware of the status of her certification, but she claimed that Henry's statement was not fully accurate.

According to Achampong, all administrators in the Commonwealth had eight years to complete their certifications instead of the normal five because of COVID.

She also said that she earned hours toward her certification and joined multiple programs to keep it active. However, Achampong claimed to have noticed that she stopped getting hours around the time she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite showing her medical records to the district, she claimed that officials were not interested.

Achampong added that Henry's claim that she knew her certifications were inactive but did not tell the district was also untrue. Rather, said she was told by someone in the district's HR department in summer 2024 that she would not need hours until the end of 2025, if at all. She also denied Henry's claim that she was told multiple times by the Department of Education about her status, and she also believes that she should have been able to obtain emergency certification.

Achampong closed her response by saying she does not completely blame the district, but added that her stage-three breast cancer diagnosis made it difficult to focus on her certifications. She added that she finds it "alarming" how many times the district mentioned her health throughout the process, despite the district's claiming that it had nothing to do with her removal as principal.

"I would never intentionally hurt my students, the school I love and the district where I graduated from," Achampong said. "I love my students and my staff. Together, we were able to accomplish things some would say are impossible. I will continue to fight, but most importantly, be there for my kids."

Officials say all five men have their green cards and are not known to have any current felony records.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Harrisburg’s Bhutanese Nepali community joined Dauphin County officials at the State Capitol on Tuesday to demand for answers after number of arrests made by ICE agents.

According to county officials, ICE agents arrested five men last week despite having their green cards and being legal U.S. residents.

“He was already working, and he was leading a normal life,” said Devi Gurung, whose younger brother was detained by ICE. “To be picked up suddenly, like this, we were very surprised, and we want him back.”

Gurung said her brother, Ashok, was arrested at his home last Sunday and taken to an unknown detention center two hours from Harrisburg. She said he served jail time after a fight in 2013, but did not have any current charges against him.

Gurung said the arrests have created a climate of fear for her family and neighbors.

“We’re still fearful with what’s going to happen to him, and what are the charges and where they will take him,” she said.

Dauphin County officials say they were unable to find any current felony charges against the five men. Commissioner Justin Douglas said the arrests were unprecedented and argues that the men have a right to due process for any charges brought against them.

“We cannot apply our laws separately to immigrants than to those who were born in this country,” said Douglas. “It is not appropriate.”

Advocates say refugees from the Bhutanese Nepali community have made Pennsylvania their home and that leaving is not possible for those who were already forced out of Bhutan decades ago.

“We do not have a country. Deportation is not an option for Bhutanese Americans,” said Tilak Niroula, the chairman for the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg.

Congressman Scott Perry released the following statement on the five arrests:

“I’ve contacted ICE about the details about these arrests over the weekend. When I receive more information, I’ll provide an update as I’m able.”