Ranking Members Padilla, Morelle Slam Trump Administration’s Plan to Recklessly Sell Federal Buildings with Congressional Offices Across the Country
“Closure and forced relocation of Congressional offices would directly interfere with Congress’s constitutional duties, pose significant security risks, and cause disruption to essential constituent services.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, slammed the Trump General Services Administration’s (GSA) ongoing efforts to close or sell off hundreds of federal facilities, including buildings with Congressional offices or other legislative branch agency leases, at the direction of President Trump and Elon Musk. The lawmakers also condemned the sweeping firings of GSA staff for entire regions and of GSA’s Congressional Support Program staff, who are essential to establish and maintain in-state Congressional offices.
“This is yet another example of the reckless incompetence from this Administration’s haphazard attempts to cut government spending,” wrote the lawmakers. “GSA and DOGE must pause any planned cancellations of federal leases for facilities or divestment of federally owned buildings that host Congressional offices or legislative branch agencies. In cases of buildings with Congressional or legislative branch tenants, GSA needs to consult with these tenants and reach appropriate agreements that ensure Members of Congress and legislative branch offices and agencies can fulfill their constitutional and legislative duties safely and securely.”
Earlier this week, GSA posted a statement that they were looking to sell up to 440 federal buildings they deemed “non-core,” which would impact 43 Senate and at least 14 House offices across the country, according to a since-removed list. Following President Trump’s executive order, it appears GSA may start closing over 3,000 leased federal facilities within weeks, including a significant number of Congressional state and district offices that would be put at risk or forced to relocate if these leases are abruptly canceled. GSA has already informed some legislative branch offices that they are terminating the leases for their office space, raising security and Constitutional concerns as they seek information from some legislative branch offices and agencies as if they were executive branch agencies.
“While we support the efficient use of office space by government agencies so that taxpayers’ funds are spent wisely, the chaotic way that GSA is pursuing these closures is causing serious damage to important functions of the federal government, from law enforcement to Social Security. In addition, GSA and DOGE are taking these actions without regard to the important distinction between executive and legislative branch offices and agencies which are under the purview of Congress, not the executive,” wrote the lawmakers.
Members of Congress utilize federal buildings to operate critical functions such as constituent casework and outreach in their states and districts. These offices are often in federal facilities to increase safety and security for Members, staff, and the public, which is especially important under the current heightened political threat environment.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Acting Administrator Ehikian:
We write to express serious concern regarding the General Services Administration’s (GSA) ongoing efforts to cancel and close federally leased and owned facilities under the direction of the Trump Administration and U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Service, and to oppose any actions that would result in the unilateral cancellation of leases with Congressional offices or other legislative branch agencies.
While we support the efficient use of office space by government agencies so that taxpayers’ funds are spent wisely, the chaotic way that GSA is pursuing these closures is causing serious damage to important functions of the federal government, from law enforcement to Social Security. In addition, GSA and DOGE are taking these actions without regard to the important distinction between executive and legislative branch offices and agencies which are under the purview of Congress, not the executive.
Members of Congress utilize federal buildings to operate critical functions such as constituent casework and outreach in the states and districts that we represent. These offices are often in federal facilities to increase safety and security for Members, staff, and the public in the current heightened political threat environment. Closure and forced relocation of Congressional offices would directly interfere with Congress’s constitutional duties, pose significant security risks, and cause disruption to essential constituent services. That outcome would be unacceptable.
Unfortunately, we are aware that GSA has already informed some legislative branch offices that GSA is terminating the leases for their office space, which has already raised important security concerns. GSA is also contacting some legislative branch offices and agencies as if they were executive branch agencies, seeking information in a way that indicates that GSA is unfamiliar with the separation of powers as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Distressingly, several staff in GSA’s Congressional Support Program, which supports Congressional state and district offices, have been fired. We urge you to reverse this short-sighted decision, which is certain to disrupt communications between GSA and Congress at the worst possible time. We have also been made aware of the wholesale firing of GSA staff for entire regions, leaving dozens of federal buildings with Congressional tenants without any federal oversight or support.
It appears that GSA may start closing over 3,000 leased federal facilities in a matter of weeks following the President’s Executive Order 14222. Within those 3,000 GSA leased federal facilities around the country, there are a significant number of Congressional state and district offices that will be put at risk or forced to relocate if these leases are cancelled abruptly.
On March 4, 2025, GSA also posted over 400 federally owned buildings that have apparently been deemed “non-core” and thus likely for divestment. While this list was removed from GSA’s website by March 5, the proposed list would impact 43 Senate state offices and 14 House district offices. This is yet another example of the reckless incompetence from this Administration’s haphazard attempts to cut government spending.
GSA and DOGE must pause any planned cancellations of federal leases for facilities or divestment of federally owned buildings that host Congressional offices or legislative branch agencies. In cases of buildings with Congressional or legislative branch tenants, GSA needs to consult with these tenants and reach appropriate agreements that ensure Members of Congress and legislative branch offices and agencies can fulfill their constitutional and legislative duties safely and securely.
We request a written response to this letter by March 14, 2025, and urge GSA to respond promptly to requests for information from Members about how this process could impact their state and district offices.
Sincerely,
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