Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is spearheading a bold new initiative to tackle America’s soaring $36 trillion national debt. Under the proposed “For Sale Act,” a number of major federal buildings in Washington, D.C., would be sold off, with cabinet-level agencies relocated rather than downsized.
The move comes from the Senate’s DOGE caucus (Demanding Oversight of Government Excess), which has identified six underused or outdated buildings ripe for sale—potentially saving taxpayers millions annually in maintenance costs.
At the top of the list is the James Forrestal Federal Building, home to the Department of Energy. Built during the Cold War era, the structure has long been considered inefficient and outdated. Several buildings along Independence Avenue would also be listed for sale, including an Agriculture Department outpost that is only 25% occupied and would need nearly $2 billion in upgrades to remain functional. Sen. Ernst called it the ideal “fixer-upper.”
Also up for sale would be:
The Hubert H. Humphrey Building, headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Robert C. Weaver Building, home to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Theodore Roosevelt Building, located near the White House.
The Frances Perkins Building, on the opposite side of the city.
These buildings, many of which are described as underutilized or outdated, would be sold within 18 months of the bill’s passage.
To prevent national security risks, the bill includes provisions barring sales to entities owned or influenced by foreign nationals, particularly from rival nations like China. This comes in response to past instances where foreign investors acquired land near sensitive military installations.
According to reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
U.S. taxpayers spend $81 million annually to maintain vacant or barely-used office buildings.
Over 7,700 federal properties are completely vacant, and 2,200 are mostly empty.
Total annual maintenance across 277,000 federal buildings exceeds $10 billion.
The DOGE caucus previously succeeded in pushing for the sale of the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building. Despite spanning 1.2 million square feet, it housed just 72 employees as of 2024. Once used by Voice of America, it’s now another example of wasteful real estate spending.
The “For Sale Act” aims to realign federal property holdings with actual needs, relocating employees without layoffs, and trimming unnecessary maintenance costs. Proponents say the bill is a practical step toward fiscal responsibility and national debt reduction, while critics may question the logistical feasibility of relocating major departments.
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