The Trump administration’s initial list of 443 federal properties for potential sale quickly reduced to 320, with the General Services Administration (GSA) removing several iconic buildings, including agency headquarters for departments like Agriculture and Justice. Notably, properties related to the CIA and several facilities in Virginia were also withdrawn. This reduction follows criticism from Democrats, who argue that the sale could negatively affect small businesses and individuals relying on federal services. Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Trump and adviser Elon Musk of systematically dismantling the government. Among the properties taken off the list was the FDA’s 3.1 million-square-foot campus in Maryland.
The list of federal properties that the Trump administration considered for sale significantly decreased from 443 to 320 within just a few hours on Tuesday, as the General Services Administration removed several notable buildings – including some agency headquarters – from its website.
Buildings that accommodate the departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs were all excluded from the inventory. The headquarters for the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Office of Personnel Management were also taken off the list.
Additionally, a collection of buildings in northern Virginia, which is not officially listed on federal property records but has been historically linked to the Central Intelligence Agency, was also withdrawn.
A spokesman for GSA did not provide immediate remarks regarding the decision to exclude over a quarter of the buildings from consideration for sale. Bloomberg News was the first to report on the list’s details on Tuesday.
The majority of the properties removed from the inventory of “non-core” real estate assets were situated in the Washington, DC region, which is grappling with high office vacancy rates.
This initiative to divest federal real estate is part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to substantially reduce the number of federal employees and the corresponding need for office space. However, the plan has faced resistance from Democrats who argue that selling federal buildings could negatively impact small businesses, as well as veterans, Social Security recipients, and others who depend on in-person services from federal agencies.
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts stated that Trump and his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk, are attempting to “dismantle our government, piece by piece, and sell it for parts.”
The 123 properties taken off the list also featured a Suitland, Maryland facility that manages weather satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – a specialized facility that the administration claimed it would strive to keep from being sold, given its essential role in operations.
In Silver Spring, Maryland, the Trump administration has ceased to list the 3.1 million-square-foot (288,000-square-meter) campus of the Food and Drug Administration, which includes 10 office buildings and four laboratory structures.