Federal Agency Announces Move To Alexandria, Other Agency's Relocation Uncertain

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is moving to Alexandria, but that will force out the National Science Foundation, another federal agency based there.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will move to in 2415 Eisenhower Ave. in Alexandria from D.C.

The governor made the announcement in Alexandria with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and U.S. General Services Administration Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters. The HUD headquarters serves an estimated 2,700 employees.

“Virginia is a great place to be headquartered, and we are excited to welcome the Department of Housing and Urban Development and their over 2,700 headquarters-based employees to the best state in America to live, work, and raise a family,” Youngkin said. "Since the Trump Administration started transforming the federal government to better serve the American people, our team has been focused on seizing the new opportunities that this presents for the Commonwealth."

The 2415 Eisenhower Ave. building is currently the headquarters of the National Science Foundation. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 union said it was informed that HUD would take over the National Science Foundation headquarters, leaving uncertainty for the more than 1,833 NSF employees.

"Many were forced to relocate to Northern Virginia with very short notice and at great personal expense when return to work orders were given," the union said in a news release.

According to the union's news release, the union was told the plans for the building include a dedicated executive suite for the HUD secretary on the 19th floor, a new executive dining room, reserved parking spaces for the secretary’s five cars, exclusive use of one elevator for the secretary, a space for the secretary’s executive assistants on the 18th floor and a potential gym for the secretary and his family.

The union criticized the plan, saying, "at a time when they claim to be cutting government waste, it is unbelievable that government funding is being redirected to build a palace-like office."

Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Manager James Parajon had attended the announcement with the governor and federal officials on Wednesday.

"We welcome HUD, the first cabinet-level agency to locate in Alexandria, its 2,700 employees, and its vital mission to our community," the city government said in a statement. "And we are committed to making sure that the National Science Foundation, its workers, and its vital mission continue to make their home in Alexandria."

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Alexandria), who represents the city in Congress, called for keeping the National Science Foundation in Alexandria and addressed the plan for HUD.

"I believe in HUD’s mission and agree that HUD employees need a facility that provides the safe environment they deserve and reflects the value of their service," said Beyer. "That said, the best way to demonstrate the value of HUD staff would be to halt ongoing attempts to lay them off. As a proud Alexandrian, I am always proud to welcome federal agencies into our community, but this proposed move raises serious concerns about the future of NSF, the over 1,800 employees who work in the building, and the broader integrity of American science."

Youngkin's office said the HUD move to Alexandria could save the federal government "several hundred million dollars in deferred maintenance and modernization costs" and "address serious health and safety hazards."

According to Scientific American, HUD's current Robert C. Weaver Federal Building near the L’Enfant Plaza Metro has more than $500 million in deferred maintenance and modernizing expenses. As the Trump administration evaluates its real estate portfolio for federal offices, HUD and the General Services Administration had added the HUD headquarters to the accelerated disposition list in April.

Youngkin's office said HUD will have a staggered relocation plan and will complete the move in the coming months.

WTOP reported the HUD secretary saying GSA and HUD would collaborate on the relocation plan for the National Science Foundation to help continue its mission.

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