The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will relocate its national headquarters to Alexandria, Virginia—marking the first time a federal cabinet-level agency has moved its base to the Commonwealth.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner confirmed the decision at a press conference alongside Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Commissioner Michael Peters.
“This is about the HUD employees—to have a safe space, a healthy workspace, and a place that reflects their service to the American people,” Turner said. “No one should be expected to work in buildings with bad air, constant leaks, failing elevators, and broken HVAC systems.”
The department’s current home, the aging Weaver Building in Washington, D.C., has long been plagued by infrastructure failures and high maintenance costs.
GSA officials stated that the relocation, which would boot out the National Science Foundation, would save more than $500 million in deferred maintenance and $56 million annually in operational costs.
The move also aligns with the Trump administration’s plan to reduce the federal real estate footprint and improve workplace quality.
Since Trump’s return to power, the administration has renewed efforts to gut key housing programs—targeting funding for fair housing enforcement, rental aid, housing vouchers, and homelessness prevention. A second round of federal buyouts led to so many departures that department officials are now asking the remaining staff to voluntarily fill empty positions.
At the National Science Foundation, frustration boiled over when employees learned of relocation plans without union input. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, which represents many NSF workers, condemned the decision, calling it a “callous disregard for taxpayer dollars and NSF employees” considering earlier budget and staffing cuts. The backlash was immediate—during a visit from HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman, staff responded with chants of “We won’t go.”
Governor Youngkin celebrated the announcement as a major win for Virginia.
“HUD’s move to Alexandria brings 2,700 employees here and confirms what we’ve known—Virginia is the best place in America to live, work, raise a family, and do business,” Youngkin said. “While some politicians have been rooting against Virginia, this proves they were flat-out wrong. Virginia is thriving.”
The new HUD facility is located near the Eisenhower Metro Station and the Hoffman Town Center and is currently occupied by the National Science Foundation.
GSA officials stated that the transition will be handled gradually to minimize disruption to NSF operations, with plans underway to find a suitable replacement for the foundation.
“We’re committed to ensuring this move is deliberate and efficient,” Peters said. “This building offers the kind of modern, collaborative space our public servants deserve. When I visited the Weaver Building, it was embarrassing. This is a huge step forward.”
Turner also responded directly to inquiries about how the move benefitting him personally.
“This is not about the secretary,” he said. “This is about the future of HUD. My family and I were already blessed before I came here. This job is a sacrifice—and this move is for the employees and the generations who will serve after us.”
Turner said HUD is working closely with GSA, NSF, and Virginia leaders to make the move as seamless as possible, but no exact timeline has been set.
“This will be HUD’s new home,” Turner said. “And I believe it represents a bright future for our team and for the people we serve.”
