These MD Federal Buildings Could Be 'Designated For Disposal'

MARYLAND — The General Services Administration on Tuesday released a list of more than 400 federal properties that could be sold or closed, including several in Maryland, because they have been deemed non-essential for government operations.

Hours later, however, the administration issued a revised list with only 320 entries. By Wednesday morning, the list was gone entirely. “Non-core property list (Coming soon),” the page read.

The General Services Administration, which published the lists, did not immediately respond to questions about the changes or why the properties that had been listed had been removed.

The initial list spanned nearly every state and included some of the country’s most recognizable buildings, along with courthouses, offices and even parking garages.

In Washington, D.C., it included the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which serves as FBI headquarters, the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, the Old Post Office building, where President Donald Trump once ran a hotel, and the American Red Cross headquarters. The headquarters of numerous agencies, including the Department of Labor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, were listed as well.

Reducing federal office space has been one of the Trump administration's top priorities since assuming power in January. Last month, GSA regional managers were told by the agency's Washington headquarters to begin terminating leases on all of the approximately 7,500 federal offices nationwide.

"We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties for disposal," a message on the GSA website stated.

"Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces. Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions."

These are the federal buildings in Maryland that the GSA said Tuesday are "designated for disposal":

Baltimore

• G.H. Fallon Federal Building, 589,182 square feet.
• U.S. Custom House, 135,145 square feet.

Frederick

• Urbana Corporate Center Facility - Main, 268,338 square feet.
• Urbana Corporate Center Facility - FAC, 6,613 square feet.
• Urbana Corporate Center Facility - Maintenance, 469 square feet.
• Urbana Corporate Center Facility - PECF, 179 square feet.

Salisbury

• Maude R. Toulson Federal Building, 23,905

Woodlawn

• Altmeyer Building, 219,798 square feet.
• Social Security Administration Annex Building, 439,698 square feet.
• East High Rise (Social Security Administration), 138,239 square feet.
• East Low Rise (Social Security Administration), 118,089 square feet.
• West High Rise (Social Security Administration), 193,698 square feet.
• West Low Rise (Social Security Administration), 55,965 square feet.
• Perimeter East Building (Social Security Administration), 546,749 square feet.
• Perimeter East Utility Building (Social Security Administration), 42,052 square feet.
• Supply Building, 126,794 square feet.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Headquarters - Central, 371,390 square feet.
• CMS Headquarters - North, 212,979 square feet.
• CMS Headquarters - South, 220,792 square feet.
• CMS Headquarters - Warehouse, 82,061 square feet.
• Woodlawn Child Care Center, 33,058 square feet.

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) released a statement and said the sale of federal buildings would "cause greater chaos and confusion, ultimately harming the American people and their access to Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ services and more.”

"These offices are critical to connecting Americans with vital services," Van Hollen said. "While no one is opposed to bringing greater efficiency to our government, this haphazard proposal has no basis in efficiency."

In a joint statement, Reps. Kweisi Mfume and Johnny Olszewski called the announcement "alarming."

"GSA must explain what will happen to the agencies and employees housed in these buildings. We fear this is another step in their plans to dismantle Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid," the lawmakers said, adding, "No federal government building should be sold without a utilization assessment that is made public and a clear plan to house federal workers."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.