Relocation of Education Department to Facilitate Redevelopment

As the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Congresswoman from Washington, D.C., we are disappointed in the Inside Higher Education [sic] report on a resolution passed by the Committee on July 14, 2026.

The resolution considered by the committee authorizes the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to spend Congressionally appropriated funds on activities needed to modernize and reconfigure federally owned space under the jurisdiction, custody and control of GSA. Permissible activities include accommodating new agency space assignments, reconfiguring existing occupied space, upgrading building systems and disposing of underutilized space.

In March 2026 GSA, DOE and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that ED was relocating its LBJ Building headquarters functions to 500 D Street SW, reducing their footprint approximately 80% by leaving a building that is roughly 70% vacant, saving the taxpayers over $4.8 million per year in rental costs.

The resolution passed by the committee does not authorize that move. ED’s move is happening because ED requested it and ED is paying for it.

What the resolution DOES do is authorize GSA to spend funds to prepare for the eventual disposal of DOE’s Forrestal Headquarters Building—the first step of which is to relocate DOE staff. Congresswoman Norton has worked for more than a decade to dispose of the Forrestal Building to facilitate the redevelopment of the Southwest Federal Center into a mixed-use neighborhood, which will generate tax revenue, housing, and other amenities for the District of Columbia.

The Department of Education will be leaving its headquarters regardless of where the Department of Energy is housed. We supported this resolution to pave the way for Washington, D.C. to convert unused federal real estate into housing and greater tax revenue. By facilitating the Department of Energy to [sic] move into and full occupation of an empty federal building, we are clearing the way to grow the city’s economy and create more housing without hanging our federal workers out to dry.

It is possible to fight the Trump administration’s illegal attacks on the federal workforce while advocating for more housing opportunities and a more prosperous local economy. A good place to start would be stopping the outsourcing of Department of Education roles to other agencies—something we both support.