For Sale Act of 2025
For Sale Act of 2025 would require the federal government to consolidate operations housed in six Washington, DC federal buildings by relocating agencies within 18 months and then selling those buildings within two years after vacancy. The sales would be at fair market value for the highest and best use, with a key prohibition: no sale to foreign persons, entities, or beneficial owners. Net proceeds would first fund implementation of the act (via the Federal Buildings Fund) and any remaining amounts would go to reduce the federal deficit. The bill also blocks new property acquisitions related to the closing/consolidation and exempts the sale from several environmental, historic-preservation, and homeless services requirements. The listed buildings are the Agriculture South Building, Hubert H. Humphrey Federal Building, Frances Perkins Federal Building, James V. Forrestal Building, Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building, and Robert C. Weaver Federal Building in DC. The sponsor in the Senate is Senator Joni Ernst, and the bill was introduced in the 119th Congress.
Key Points
- 1Consolidation and sale timeline: All affected agencies must vacate their current DC buildings within 18 months and the Administrator of General Services must sell those buildings within 2 years after vacancy, subject to certain conditions.
- 2Buildings affected: The sale targets six DC federal buildings: USDA South Building (1400 Independence Ave SW), Hubert H. Humphrey Federal Building (200 Independence Ave SW), Frances Perkins Federal Building (200 Constitution Ave NW), James V. Forrestal Building (1000 Independence Ave SW), Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building (1900 E Street NW), and Robert C. Weaver Federal Building (451 7th Street SW).
- 3Foreign ownership ban: The Administrator may not sell any of these buildings to foreign persons, foreign entities, or entities with a foreign beneficial owner.
- 4How proceeds are used: Net proceeds are split—enough to implement the sale program and related operations go into the Federal Buildings Fund; any excess goes to the general fund of the Treasury to help reduce the deficit; funds deposited into the Fund can only be spent later through a specific future appropriation.
- 5Restrictions and exemptions: No additional federal acquisitions related to the closing/consolidation may occur; the sale is exempt from certain requirements (McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act section 501, NEPA, National Historic Preservation Act, and specified sections of 40 U.S.C.).
- 6Status and sponsor: Introduced in the Senate (June 2025) by Senator Joni Ernst; referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The bill is not enacted legislation at this time.