HUD Headquarters Deserted Under Biden Administration, Trump Administration Claims
Spirit Halloween Comparison
The former Trump administration has accused the Biden administration of neglecting federal buildings, specifically the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) headquarters in Washington, D.C.. They claim that the offices have been left in a state of disrepair, resembling "Spirit Halloween" stores that are empty for most of the year.
Data obtained by Fox News Digital shows that the HUD headquarters, designed to accommodate over 6,000 employees, currently has only 3,002 desks and offices. The average number of employees physically working in the building during the Biden administration (2023-2024) was just 705, leaving a majority of the space unoccupied.
Operation Costs
The operation costs of the 10-story building are also noteworthy. In fiscal year 2024, taxpayers spent $111,978,115 on rent and other expenses for the Weaver building.
A Whiteboard Discovery
A photograph taken in 2025 revealed an employee’s business card tacked to a whiteboard. The card was placed there at the end of the first Trump administration and remained untouched until the second Trump administration noticed it. This incident highlights the alleged lack of maintenance and attention in the building.
Trump’s Return-to-Work Order
President Donald Trump signed a memo on his first day back in office ordering agencies to terminate remote work arrangements that had been ongoing since the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOGE Task Force
Scott Turner, the recently confirmed HUD secretary, has launched a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force to identify and eliminate "waste, fraud and abuse" at the agency. The task force has already identified $1.9 billion in misplaced HUD funds and helped release those funds to the U.S. Treasury.
Turner’s Commitment
Turner has emphasized his commitment to getting employees back to the office full-time. He believes that in-person teamwork fosters accountability and creativity. The department has implemented a phased approach to ensure that over 88% of its employees will be reporting to the office by February 24, 2025.
Conclusion
The former Trump administration has criticized the Biden administration for neglecting federal buildings and allowing waste and inefficiency to accumulate. The new Trump administration, under Secretary Turner, is taking steps to address these issues and restore the functionality and efficiency of federal agencies.
