Overview
- DHS has asked the GSA for emergency approval to demolish 13 vacant buildings on the St. Elizabeths West Campus in Washington, D.C.
- Secretary Kristi Noem’s memo describes the structures as a present risk to life and property, citing potential use by attackers, including active-shooter scenarios.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the D.C. Preservation League submitted a joint letter disputing the safety rationale and arguing poor site security is the real issue.
- The emergency process gave preservation groups only three days to respond, prompting objections that the move sidesteps established review safeguards.
- A final decision from the GSA has not been reported, as scrutiny grows following the administration’s earlier demolition of the White House East Wing.