HUD becomes first major cabinet agency to exit DC, citing ‘failing’ HQ -- which DOGE wants to sell

UNIQUE The Department of Housing and Urban Enhancement HUD and the Commonwealth of Virginia will announce Wednesday that the agency will be the first major cabinet department to relocate out of Washington D C during President Donald Trump s term Virginia Republican Gov Glenn Youngkin and HUD Secretary Scott Turner are set to christen the agency s new home at the already existing National Science Foundation NSF building in Alexandria s Carlyle-Eisenhower neighborhood which is also home to a Wegman's grocery store a movie theater and several shops and high-end restaurants HUD s current headquarters on L Enfant Plaza is also on the Senate DOGE Caucus list of buildings they want to see sold off to save taxpayer funds The curved X-shaped granite building officially called the Robert C Weaver Federal Building is underutilized according to their rubric Turner noted that the relocation will unlock hundreds of millions in taxpayer savings and address serious fitness concerns among staff at L Enfant FOR SALE DOGE MOVES TO SELL OFF ALMOST HALF A BILLION IN FEDERAL REAL ESTATE RELOCATE CABINET AGENCY HQS It is time to turn the page on the Weaver Building and relocate to a new headquarters that prioritizes the well-being of HUD employees and properly reflects the passion and excellence of our crew Turner described Fox News Digital There are serious concerns with the current state of HUD s headquarters including fitness hazards leaks and structural and maintenance failures Countless of these risks will needlessly and irresponsibly continue to absorb taxpayer dollars Relocating is about more than just changing buildings it s about a mission-minded shift that we hope will inspire every employee Turner a former Washington Redskins cornerback added that it also aligns with President Donald Trump s vision for a New American Golden Age Youngkin was equally enthused about HUD s move to the Old Dominion HUD SECRETARY SCOTT TURNER LAYS OUT AGENCY WINS DURING FIRST DAYS SHARES PRIORITIES FOR NEXT Virginia is a great place to be headquartered and we are excited to welcome the Department of Housing and Urban Growth and their over headquarters-based employees to the best state in America to live work and raise a family Youngkin communicated Fox News Digital Amid plans by then-Elon Musk-led DOGE to relocate federal workers Youngkin faced criticism for not speaking out more forcefully against the administration criticism that largely fizzled after Wednesday s announcement revealed the new headquarters would be just a sparse stops from downtown Washington on the Metro s Yellow Line Since the Trump administration started transforming the federal governing body to better serve the American people our club has been focused on seizing the new opportunities that this presents for the commonwealth Youngkin revealed Virginia is the proud home to a great number of society and private sector headquarters and we thank HUD leadership for trusting us and are committed to supporting your significant national mission Youngkin had taken slings and arrows over his backing for such DOGE efforts including from Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell D-Mount Vernon who previously criticized his position on federal worker relocation This is about people's jobs their lives their ability to promotion their families and it's about the future of the Virginia financial system Surovell informed VPM The HUD relocation however falls just across Cameron Run Creek from Surovell s district Michael Peters the commissioner of the General Services Administration which manages federal real estate praised the move to Virginia saying it reflects his agency s commitment to fiscal responsibility and mission effectiveness Investments to-date in the Weaver building totaled million over the past years including plaza roof and fa ade repairs HUD expects critical demand from the private sector for its old home located just east of the Smithsonian south of the National Mall and within walking distance of the new Waterfront Wharf social area CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMold and asbestos containment have plagued the building which also has only about half of its elevators in working operation The agency also noted there are about more employees at HUD versus NSF which they calculated to effect a -per-square-foot savings on building usage and maintenance Fox News Digital also reached out to Senate DOGE Chairwoman Joni Ernst R-Iowa for comment Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this description