HUD Exits D.C. for Virginia, Ditches ‘Failing’ Headquarters in Bold Cost-Saving Move

In a bold move, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is packing its bags and leaving Washington, D.C., becoming the first major cabinet agency to ditch the capital during President Donald Trump’s term. The new digs? A sleek, modern setup in Alexandria’s Carlyle-Eisenhower neighborhood, sharing space with the National Science Foundation’s building, right next to a Wegman’s, a movie theater, and upscale eateries. It’s a practical relocation with a side of lifestyle upgrade.

HUD’s current headquarters, the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building at L’Enfant Plaza, is a crumbling relic. Leaks, health hazards like mold and asbestos, and barely functional elevators have made it a budgetary black hole, soaking up $90 million in repairs over the past 15 years. The Senate DOGE Caucus, with its eagle eye on federal waste, has flagged the underused, X-shaped granite structure for sale, aiming to save taxpayers hundreds of millions. HUD Secretary Scott Turner, a former NFL cornerback, called the move a 'mission-minded shift,' emphasizing employee well-being and fiscal responsibility over clinging to a failing building.

Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin rolled out the red carpet, touting the Old Dominion as the 'best state in America' for HUD’s 2,700 employees to work and live. The new location, just a few Metro stops from D.C., sidesteps much of the criticism Youngkin faced for supporting Trump’s federal workforce overhaul. Critics like Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell worried about job losses, but with the new HQ practically in his backyard, those concerns seem to have fizzled.

This relocation aligns with Trump’s vision of a 'New American Golden Age,' as Turner put it, and reflects the broader push by the DOGE initiative, led by figures like Elon Musk, to streamline federal operations. The General Services Administration’s Michael Peters praised the move as a win for fiscal responsibility and mission effectiveness. Meanwhile, the old Weaver building, strategically located near the National Mall and the trendy Waterfront Wharf, is expected to draw private-sector buyers, potentially turning a liability into a lucrative deal.