Lawmakers in Virginia seek clarification on Trump's proposed displacement of the National Science Foundation (NSF)

In a recent turn of events, the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) has announced plans to move its headquarters into the National Science Foundation's (NSF) building in Alexandria, Virginia. This decision has sparked controversy and raised concerns among lawmakers and NSF employees.

Senators Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, and Representative Don Beyer, all from Virginia, have written a letter to Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, questioning the move. They expressed concern that the decision might come at the expense of NSF employees already housed at the proposed site for the new HUD headquarters.

The lawmakers stated that the decision seems to have been made without meaningful consultation of all impacted stakeholders. They emphasised that the commonwealth of Virginia should not be the site for the new HUD headquarters at the expense of NSF employees.

If the move goes ahead, approximately 1,800 NSF employees, many of whom are Virginia residents, will be displaced with no information regarding the future of their work. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, which represents NSF employees, has questioned the choice of their own headquarters as a replacement.

The officials from the Ministry of the Interior for Urban Development and Housing and the General Services Administration (GSA) began reviewing the use of office space of the National Science Foundation in Alexandria in April 2023. The GSA Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters stated that the timing for both agencies moving "is still being worked out."

The Alexandria headquarters was designed with specifications and technology necessary for NSF to promote American science and national security. The lawmakers submitted questions about any plans relating to how NSF employees will work following the relocations.

HUD's current headquarters requires more than $500 million worth of deferred maintenance and modernization. Rumours of upgrades for the HUD secretary's suite, including the construction of an executive dining room and gym, have circulated, but HUD Secretary Scott Turner has denied these.

The lawmakers also questioned whether NSF was able to provide input on its use of the Alexandria headquarters. Many NSF workers moved to Northern Virginia at their own expense to comply with the Trump White House's return-to-office mandate.

Virginia has the workforce, infrastructure, and resources to serve as home for any federal agency, including HUD, the lawmakers wrote. They expressed a lack of regard for NSF, its mission, and its workforce in the decision to bring HUD to Virginia.

As the situation unfolds, the future of both HUD and NSF in Alexandria remains uncertain, with many questions still unanswered. The lawmakers' letter puts pressure on the GSA and HUD to provide clear answers and ensure a fair and transparent process for all parties involved.