Trump Brutally Sticks It To Dick Cheney and Nancy Pelosi
Reports indicate that the Trump administration is moving forward with its initiative to sell off 443 government-owned buildings, including those named after former Vice President Dick Cheney and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The federal government plans to divest approximately 80 million square feet of what it considers “non-core” assets, spanning across 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, according to data from the General Services Administration (GSA). This includes major federal offices in the nation’s capital, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Energy.
Among the properties identified for potential sale are the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco and the Dick Cheney Federal Building in Wyoming, as reported by Bloomberg.
The initiative aligns with Trump’s broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government and cut unnecessary expenditures. GSA estimates suggest that shedding these properties could save taxpayers over $430 million annually in operational and maintenance costs.
This move starkly contrasts with the approach of former President Joe Biden, who prioritized the expansion of federal agencies and government operations. Trump, by contrast, has pushed to scale back government real estate holdings as part of his long-standing mission to curb bureaucratic excess.
The list of properties for potential sale includes:
- FBI Headquarters (Washington, D.C.)
- Department of Justice Headquarters
- Department of Energy Headquarters
- FAA Headquarters
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building (San Francisco, CA)
- Dick Cheney Federal Building (Casper, WY)
While some of these buildings are considered surplus to the government’s needs, others remain outdated or underutilized. Trump has made it clear that no property is exempt from consideration and has not shied away from challenging establishment GOP figures.
The Dick Cheney Federal Building, located in Casper, Wyoming, serves as a hub for various federal offices, including the U.S. Post Office. Originally constructed between 1968 and 1970, it was renamed in 1998 to honor Cheney, a Casper native and former vice president. The structure consists of a four-story west wing housing federal offices and a one-story east wing dedicated to postal services.
While the Biden administration expanded federal real estate holdings, Trump is focused on shrinking them. The release of this list signals a potential intent to offload government-owned properties, though no specific sales are guaranteed at this stage.
“Just because something is on the non-core list doesn’t mean it’s for sale by any means,” Michael Peters, a former investment banker and the Trump-appointed head of the Public Buildings Service, told Bloomberg. “But if someone put an offer on the table, we would evaluate it.”
Assessing the value of these government buildings is complex, given varying market conditions. According to real estate analytics firm Green Street, office property values have declined by 36% from their peak in 2022 as of January, reflecting ongoing struggles in the commercial real estate market due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising interest rates.
Additionally, the rise of remote work has diminished demand for office space, leading to increased vacancies in major cities. Furthermore, converting commercial spaces for residential use remains challenging due to high financing and construction costs.