The Senate’s DOGE Caucus, led by Senator Joni Ernst, is proposing a legislative plan to sell six significant properties in Washington, D.C., including the James Forrestal Federal Building and the Hubert H. Humphrey Jr. Building, as part of a broader initiative to reduce the $36 trillion national debt. The ‘For Sale Act’ aims to generate approximately $500 million by selling these underutilized federal real estate assets. The Senate’s DOGE Caucus has previously successfully mandated the sale of the aging Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building in Federal Center, which housed offices for Voice of America and the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors. This new initiative reflects a continued effort to address government spending and streamline federal operations.
The sale of these properties is intended to help reduce the national debt without laying off any employees, as the plan includes provisions for relocating workforce across the D.C. area. The properties in question include the Department of Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and other federal agencies, which have been identified as underutilized. The James Forrestal Federal Building, known as the ‘Little Pentagon’ during the Vietnam War, is among the six properties targeted for sale. Additionally, the Hubert H. Humphrey Jr. Building, which houses the Department of Health and Human Services, will also be put on the market within 18 months of the Act’s passage.
The proposed legislation includes safeguards against foreign entities purchasing these properties, citing concerns about rivals like China acquiring land near sensitive installations such as a major Air Force base in North Dakota. Furthermore, any entity where a foreign national is a ‘beneficial owner’ would be prohibited from participating in federal real estate sales. The sale of these properties is expected to generate significant revenue while also addressing the long-standing issue of underused federal buildings, which cost taxpayers around $81 million annually in maintenance.