HUD secretary shares footage of headquarters deteriorating before relocation.

Housing and Urban Development Agency’s Relocation Plans

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner, recently shared a video on social media depicting the deteriorating roof of the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. This follows his announcement that HUD would soon move its headquarters to Alexandria, Virginia, a shift that began during the Trump administration.

Turner pointed out significant maintenance issues, noting that the D.C. buildings face over $500 million in “deferred maintenance” costs. Currently, only half of the HUD headquarters is actively utilized. He emphasized concerns about safety, outlining the urgent need for a move.

In the video, Turner remarked on the building’s crumbling state, saying, “I witnessed this firsthand. It’s not suitable for HUD staff or the people we serve. Moving day cannot come soon enough.”

As part of the relocation plans, HUD will leave the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building for a new site at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, which currently houses the National Science Foundation. The timing of the move isn’t clear yet, but it marks a notable transition as HUD becomes the first major cabinet agency to relocate from D.C. citing the current headquarters as “failed.”

According to the General Services Administration, this process will eventually involve moving approximately 2,700 HUD employees from the current location.

In addition to addressing safety and infrastructure concerns, HUD expects to save taxpayers around $56 million annually in operational and rental expenses with the move. Turner stated that this transition is more about creating a safe environment for staff and the constituents they serve rather than just administrative preferences.