Trump Administration Moves to Sell or Close Hundreds of Federal Properties—Then Abruptly Revises List

The Trump administration has released a controversial list of federal properties it plans to sell or shutter, citing a push to cut government costs. Initially, the list contained more than 440 federal buildings, including high-profile locations such as the FBI headquarters and the Department of Justice’s main building. However, just hours later, the administration revised the list, removing over 120 properties—especially those in Washington, D.C.

Sudden Changes Raise Questions

The General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal real estate, published the list but offered no explanation for the abrupt revisions. While the original list contained well-known landmarks across nearly every state, the updated version removed many of the most notable government buildings in the nation’s capital.

Among the properties initially targeted for sale were:

  • The J. Edgar Hoover Building, home to the FBI headquarters
  • The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building
  • The Old Post Office, formerly home to a Trump-branded hotel
  • The American Red Cross headquarters
  • The headquarters of the Department of Labor and HUD

In addition to D.C., major government properties across the U.S. were included, such as:

  • The Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center in Indiana
  • The Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
  • The Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco
  • The U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York

With approximately 80% of federal workers based outside of Washington, D.C., the sweeping list of properties targeted for closure raises concerns about job security and service accessibility nationwide.

Justification for the Sell-Off

The GSA defended the move, arguing that selling off non-essential properties eliminates unnecessary costs and allows taxpayer dollars to be reinvested in more efficient workspaces.

“We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations,” the agency stated. “Selling these properties ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal space.”

A Bold Plan to Reduce Government Size

The effort aligns with Donald Trump’s longstanding goal of shrinking the federal government. Billionaire Elon Musk, who has been advising the administration on government efficiency, supports the sell-off as part of a broader push to reduce federal spending.

Trump and Musk claim that eliminating unnecessary office space could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, while also forcing federal agencies to rethink how they operate. Additionally, the administration mandated a return to full-time office work for federal employees, despite resistance from many workers.

Controversial Cuts and Architectural Preferences

The move has also raised concerns about political motivations behind certain closures. Many of the buildings initially targeted house agencies that Trump has long criticized, including the FBI and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Notably, several of these buildings are examples of brutalist architecture, a style Trump has sought to eliminate in favor of traditional, neoclassical designs.

Aggressive Lease Termination Plans

The GSA has also reportedly instructed regional managers to begin terminating leases across the country, aiming to cancel as many as 300 per day. A leaked memo revealed that government employees were told to vacate spaces as soon as possible, raising concerns about how quickly the administration is moving forward with its real estate overhaul.

Civil Rights Landmarks Also on the List

Some of the proposed sales have sparked particular outrage, as they involve buildings tied to the civil rights movement. The administration is looking to offload federal buildings named after Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit.

Additionally, the list includes the Montgomery, Alabama bus station, which played a crucial role in the Freedom Rides and now serves as a museum. Critics argue that selling these properties sends the wrong message about preserving civil rights history.

GSA: A Cost-Saving Measure, Not a Political Move

In a statement, the GSA’s Public Buildings Service emphasized that most properties slated for sale are aging office spaces that have become functionally obsolete due to decades of underfunding.

“Decades of funding deficiencies have resulted in many of these buildings becoming unsuitable for use by our federal workforce,” the agency stated.

By eliminating unnecessary office space, the administration claims it could save more than $430 million annually in operating costs. The 443 buildings under review span nearly 80 million rentable square feet, making this one of the most significant federal real estate overhauls in U.S. history.

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