The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is planning to move to a smaller and more affordable building for its headquarters. This decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the number of federal employees and the office spaces they occupy.
HUD’s current building, located in Washington, D.C., was built in 1968 and is facing over $500 million in needed repairs and upgrades. The agency has noted that its staff only uses half of the available office space, and relocating is expected to lessen the financial burden on taxpayers.
Secretary of HUD, Scott Turner, described the existing structure as "the ugliest building in D.C." He emphasized that the agency aims to create a workplace that reflects efficiency and accountability. The agency is committed to downsizing its operations to better serve the American people.
While HUD has not disclosed how much it is asking for the current building, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which could complicate its sale. The agency has not yet set a timeline for the move or determined the new location, but it plans to stay within the Washington, D.C. area.
This move aligns with President Trump’s recent order, which gives federal agencies more freedom to find office spaces outside of traditional city centers. This order revokes earlier mandates from Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton that encouraged agencies to remain in business districts and historic sites. The administration argues that these past policies made it harder for agencies to find lower-cost facilities.
As HUD prepares for this transition, it remains focused on its mission to provide housing solutions while managing its resources more effectively.