House GOP Representative Buddy Carter introduces legislation to sell the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco as part of a Republican push for fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.
Key Insights
- The SWAMP Act would direct the GSA to sell the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building at fair market value.
- The 18-story building in San Francisco houses various government offices, including Pelosi’s district office.
- This legislation aligns with President Trump’s previous criticisms of the building and broader GOP fiscal policy goals.
- Rep. Carter cites the $36 trillion national debt as justification for divesting “underutilized vanity projects.”
GOP Targets Federal Building Named After Pelosi
A new Republican bill introduced by Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA) aims to sell the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco at fair market value. The Stop Wasteful Allocations of Money for Pelosi (SWAMP) Act represents the latest effort by House Republicans to advance President Trump’s agenda through legislative action and address what they view as wasteful government spending. The 18-story structure currently houses multiple government offices, including Pelosi’s district office, and has become a focal point in the ongoing debate about federal asset management and fiscal responsibility.
The General Services Administration (GSA) would be directed under this legislation to sell the building for “its highest and best use,” according to the bill’s language. This move echoes a 2020 executive order issued during President Trump’s first term, which identified the building as a potential candidate for divestiture. At that time, Trump characterized the structure as “one of the ugliest” in San Francisco, highlighting both aesthetic and fiscal concerns with maintaining such properties in the federal portfolio.
Trump could sell Nancy Pelosi Federal Building 'at fair market value' under new GOP bill https://t.co/3zfzb6fbLf
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Fiscal Responsibility at the Forefront
The push to sell the Pelosi Building comes amid growing concerns about the national debt, which has now surpassed $36 trillion. Representative Carter has emphasized that the initiative is primarily about sound fiscal management rather than partisan politics. The GSA has similarly stated that any potential sale would be motivated by efforts to reduce deferred liability costs associated with maintaining aging or inefficient federal properties, not by political considerations.
“We are over $36 trillion in debt. Instead of maintaining expensive, underutilized vanity projects for liberal politicians, the federal government should be focused on efficiency and fiscal responsibility,” said Rep. Buddy Carter.
The legislation reflects broader Republican priorities for streamlining government operations and reducing federal real estate holdings. Supporters argue that the federal government maintains too many underutilized properties that cost taxpayers millions in maintenance and operation expenses annually. By divesting such assets, they contend, the government can both reduce ongoing expenses and generate revenue from the sales that could be applied toward debt reduction.
Part of a Larger Strategy
The SWAMP Act is not an isolated initiative but rather part of a coordinated effort by House Republicans to implement fiscal reforms aligned with President Trump’s vision for government efficiency. This approach to federal asset management continues policies established during Trump’s first term, when his administration identified numerous federal properties for potential sale or repurposing. The current proposal specifically targets a building named after one of Trump’s most prominent political opponents, which has raised questions about the political dimensions of the initiative.
Fox News Digital reports reaching out to former Speaker Pelosi’s office for comment but receiving no response as of publication time. The building, which was named after Pelosi in 2023 during the Biden administration, serves as a symbol of her long political career representing San Francisco. Critics of the proposed sale suggest it represents an attempt to diminish Pelosi’s legacy, while supporters maintain that the financial considerations outweigh any symbolic value the building holds.
As the legislation moves through Congress, it highlights the ongoing tension between fiscal conservatism and the preservation of federal assets that carry political significance. Whether the building ultimately changes hands will depend not only on the bill’s passage but also on market conditions and the strategic value of the property to government operations in the San Francisco area.
