Several Federal Agencies in Baltimore Close, Send Employees Home Early

This story has been updated. 

Several federal offices in Baltimore, Md., closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure during the current state of emergency in the city.

The Baltimore Federal Executive Board said the following agencies are closed on April 28:

• Veterans Affairs Department Regional Office
• VA Benefits Academy
• U.S. District Courthouse for the District of Maryland
• Justice Department Office for Immigration Review

The Social Security Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, both headquartered in Baltimore, closed early on Tuesday. Other federal offices in Baltimore are open with the option of unscheduled leave/unscheduled telework. 

Baltimore is currently under a state of emergency because of rioting and looting on Monday night, triggered in part by the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died of a spinal cord injury while in police custody earlier this month. Gray’s funeral was Monday, and peaceful protests were under way when violence erupted late Monday afternoon and evening. The city also is under a weeklong curfew starting Tuesday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

SSA implemented a staggered early dismissal for thousands of federal employees who work on its main campus in Baltimore and surrounding offices between now and 1 p.m. EST “out of an abundance of caution and after consulting with local Baltimore officials,” said LaVenia LaVelle, an SSA spokeswoman. LaVelle emphasized that there were no credible threats to SSA, its offices, or employees, but that the agency was being “precautionary and proactive” by closing area offices early.

“We are committed to the safety of our employees, many of whom reside in and around the community, as well as those who visit our local field offices,” LaVelle said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mr. Freddie Gray and the City of Baltimore, during this time.”

CMS closed at noon on Tuesday in Baltimore.

The Housing and Urban Development Department asked employees in the Baltimore field office to either telework or use liberal leave on Tuesday. Employees in HUD's Baltimore office left early on Monday, said department spokesman Jereon Brown. "Many of them commute into and around the city and we wanted to make sure they got home safely," Brown said in an email on Tuesday.

The VA said that while Baltimore area vet centers were closed Tuesday, the clinics and medical centers were still open. "We do want our veterans to be cognizant of current conditions and plan appropriately for traveling to VA facilities," said James Hutton, VA director of media relations.

Richard Howell, executive director of the Baltimore Federal Executive Board, said on Tuesday that he had "no idea at this point" whether federal offices in the area that were closed Tuesday would be open on Wednesday. 

On Monday, Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan activated the National Guard to help deal with the situation. Baltimore public schools and several area businesses were closed on Tuesday. 

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.