For years, the federal government has been spending an eye-watering $250 million annually to maintain a vacant office building in downtown Washington, D.C. The 14-story structure, once home to a federal agency that was relocated in 2018, has remained empty ever since. Despite repeated calls to repurpose the property or sell it off, layers of bureaucratic red tape have stalled any meaningful action. This revelation has sparked outrage among taxpayers, who see it as a glaring example of government inefficiency.
Records from the General Services Administration (GSA) reveal that the annual costs cover utilities, security, and basic maintenance, even though no federal employees occupy the building. Adding to the frustration is the prime location of the property, which analysts estimate could generate millions annually if leased or sold. Critics have pointed out that hundreds of other federally-owned properties face similar issues, costing taxpayers billions in unnecessary expenses each year.
Congress is now demanding answers, with lawmakers pushing for legislation that would streamline the process of offloading unused federal properties. Some proposals include fast-tracking the sale of surplus assets and cutting red tape to allow private developers to repurpose government-owned buildings. While the efforts are still in their early stages, the uproar has shed new light on the broader issue of wasteful government spending. With public scrutiny mounting, officials are under pressure to prevent further misuse of taxpayer dollars.
MUST SEE: America, how do you feel about leasing a fancy Washington DC high-rise for a quarter of $1 billion?
That’s exactly what the last administration did at the US Agency for Global Media.@KariLake exposes waste & corruption, and will work to root it out.
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— Kari Lake (@KariLake) March 14, 2025
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