The Federal Government’s Latest Real Estate Fire Sale

Nevada’s Carson City Federal Building on the Chopping Block

In a move not seen in nearly 60 years, the General Services Administration (GSA)—the federal government’s highfalutin real estate broker—has been ordered by President Trump to offload over 500 buildings deemed “non-core assets.” It is part of a sweeping effort to cut waste and rein in the government’s ever-expanding footprint, a move that’s sure to ruffle the feathers of bureaucrats who have long grown comfortable in their taxpayer-funded offices.

Among the properties marked for sale is Carson City’s Federal Building at 705 N. Plaza Street. Built to house the U.S. Post Office in 1972 after it vacated the historic structure now known as the Paul Laxalt State Building, the unassuming facility has since been home to a collection of federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

But now, the government has decided it no longer needs the space, leaving its tenants wondering where they’ll hang their hats next. The GSA’s goal is nothing short of a downsizing move—reducing its owned buildings by 70 percent and shrinking the overall real estate footprint by 50 percent.

Unlike the Associated Press’s mistaken claim that Elon Musk is behind this initiative, this directive comes straight from the Trump administration, marking one of the most significant reductions in federal property holdings in modern history. The plan is to sell off the buildings rather than continue maintaining underused space and instead lease offices only where necessary—cutting costs and forcing efficiency in a government that has long resisted both.

Nevada is just one piece of the puzzle. Other notable buildings set to hit the market include Chicago’s John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, Boston’s John F. Kennedy Federal Building, and Tennessee’s Ed Jones Federal Building. What fate awaits these properties remains uncertain. But given the government’s knack for mismanagement, one hopes they don’t end up as overpriced condominiums or empty shells haunted by the ghosts of federal inefficiency.

For Carson City, the question is who will buy 705 N. Plaza Street. If history is any guide, someone will figure out how to turn government surplus into private profit.

Whether that means an office park, a casino, or an enterprising land baron snapping it up for pennies on the dollar, one thing is clear—when Washington decides to clean house, it pays to pay attention.