CARLSBAD, N.M. — As the Department of Government Efficiency continues cost-cutting, there was confusion Tuesday about a nuclear waste facility in Carlsbad – will the office that oversees it close?

Employees at the Skeen-Whitlock building oversee the storage of nuclear waste that is processed and stored at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad. Their job is to make sure it’s done safely and correctly to avoid spills or leaks. It’s a separate campus from the actual storage facility.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez sounded the alarm Tuesday morning about the building getting put on the list. He said there are a few New Mexico buildings on the chopping block but cutting one that oversees nuclear waste could be dangerous.

“We’re demanding that the Department of Energy and the General Service Administration give us answers as to a definitive closing date for this particular facility or tell us that they made a mistake. [I’m] Hoping that the latter is true, they made a mistake by putting this facility on the list,” Vasquez said. “The impacts of national security potential pollutants and contamination from radioactive elements that are in these barrels is going to be a recipe for a disaster that we never want to see in this country.”

Rep. Vasquez calls these cuts unpredictable and irresponsible. There are still a lot of unknowns right now.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the DOGE website listed the office. However, KOB 4 received this statement Tuesday afternoon from Richard Lopez, the mayor of Carlsbad:

“Thank you for reaching out regarding the Skeen-Whitlock building lease. Initially, it seemed the lease was at risk. However, I learned today that the miscommunication has been resolved, and the lease remains intact. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant plays a vital role in our national safety and security, and the Department of Energy is integral to our community’s operations. We are pleased this issue has been resolved in a way that benefits Carlsbad and those who rely on these facilities.”

Even after we received this, we saw the DOGE website still listed the office, its annual leasing price and how much would be saved if the lease was cut.

We will keep updating this story as more information becomes available.