Crumbling Buildings on the Historic St. Elizabeth Campus

A video reveals the dilapidated state of a historic structure on the St. Elizabeth West campus in Washington, D.C. This former psychiatric hospital complex is currently being reimagined as the headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The DHS is moving to demolish a long-vacant historic building, which has raised safety concerns given its previous use. According to agency documents, Secretary Kristi Noem indicated in a memo that the building poses risks to life and property, asserting that demolition is the only effective solution.

The security risk assessment identifies potential threats stemming from unauthorized access to these vacant structures, citing risks in scenarios that could involve small arms or live fire. It also raises alarms about “malicious insiders,” such as current or former employees who could exploit access to harm the organization or compromise sensitive data.

In total, DHS is aiming for the demolition of 17 buildings. Preservation officials noted that four have received approval from federal agencies, while the remaining 13 are marked for emergency demolition and have not yet undergone the necessary review.

Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at DHS, explained to Fox News Digital that the decision for demolition stems from safety concerns related to these aging structures.

The General Services Administration (GSA) confirmed that it had been informed by DHS of significant safety hazards at the St. Elizabeth campus. A GSA representative mentioned that if a building presents a threat, demolition could be carried out, and that their procedures are in alignment with existing laws and regulations.

Established in 1855, St. Elizabeth was the first federally-operated psychiatric hospital in the nation. The West Campus was declared excess property in 2001 and eventually entrusted to the GSA. Over the last 15 years, it has been transformed into a secure complex for DHS operations.

The demolition plan is facing pushback from organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the D.C. Preservation Alliance. These groups argue that there’s no evidence of an actual emergency and criticize the DHS’s unilateral approach, which they say bypasses necessary historic preservation reviews.

Critics also contend that the timing of the emergency declaration—coming just before the holiday season—limited their ability to challenge the demolition effectively. The DHS made this declaration on December 19, with local officials not informed until just before Christmas.