“Just because something is on the non-core list doesn’t mean it’s for sale by any means,” said Michael Peters, a former investment banker appointed by Trump to lead the Public Buildings Service. “But if someone put an offer on the table, we would evaluate it.”
The shift toward remote work has also reduced the need for office space, leaving many major cities with rising vacancy rates. However, converting these commercial buildings for residential use poses challenges, especially with high construction and financing costs.
Aging Government Buildings
Many of the federal buildings in question are outdated and may require extensive repairs.
“The deferred maintenance is reflected in the condition of these buildings,” Peters noted during a Public Buildings Reform Board meeting in January. “You know, if you toured many of them, you wouldn’t want to be there with your dog, much less with your work environment.”
About one-third of the buildings on the list are located in the Washington, D.C. metro area. However, due to the concentration of federal agency headquarters, these properties represent a disproportionate share of the total square footage.
