A secret CIA facility in northern Virginia was mistakenly included in a list of government buildings planned for sale under a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The facility, which reportedly houses classified records and over 35,000 items from former US President Barack Obama’s time in office, appeared on an official liquidation list before being quietly removed.
The error was first reported by The Telegraph and Bloomberg, citing leaked documents showing that the base was among 100 properties that were suddenly crossed off the list without explanation. The situation has sparked debate over how such a sensitive location could have been mistakenly included. While the facility’s classified nature was not officially disclosed, local residents were already aware of its existence.
The Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DODGE, has been pushing for significant cuts to government spending. The office lease reduction programme, which aims to reduce federal expenses, questions why taxpayer money continues to be spent on maintaining underused buildings. A post from 2024 raised similar concerns, asking why billions were being wasted on office space that was no longer needed.
Real estate analysts estimate that the US federal government spends $5.23 billion annually on office rentals. To address this, the General Services Administration, which manages government property, recently announced a plan to sell off or repurpose 443 buildings it considers surplus. The CIA-linked facility was initially part of this review before being removed, likely due to security concerns.
Among the records stored in the facility are historical documents and personal items collected by Barack Obama during his eight years in office. Many of these artefacts are expected to be showcased in his future presidential library in Chicago. However, questions remain about how classified intelligence files were stored in a building that was nearly put up for sale.
