These MN Federal Buildings Could Be 'Designated For Disposal'

MINNESOTA — The General Services Administration on Tuesday released a list of more than 400 federal properties that could be sold or closed, including several Minnesota buildings, 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 had included some of the country’s most recognizable buildings, along with courthouses, offices and even parking garage and spanned nearly every state.

In Washington, D.C., it included the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which serves as the 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 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. GSA regional managers last month 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 Minnesota that the GSA said Tuesday are "designated for disposal":

• Austin MN Social Security Administration – Austin, MN – 5,798 sq. ft.
• Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building – Fort Snelling, MN – 581,588 sq. ft.
• Edward J. Devitt U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building – Fergus Falls, MN – 46,692 sq. ft.
• FSS Fleet Management Parking Area – Fort Snelling, MN – 0 sq. ft.
• Minneapolis MN Social Security Administration – Minneapolis, MN – 20,792 sq. ft.
• Motor Pool Garage – Fort Snelling, MN – 3,423 sq. ft.
• Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building – Minneapolis, MN – 122,986 sq. ft.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.