The Trump administration is looking to sell two federal buildings in San Francisco, including one recently named after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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The buildings, which house various federal offices and agencies, are being considered as "non-core" assets to be sold off, according to reports.
The buildings in question include the 1930s-era federal building at 50 United Nations Plaza and the 18-story Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, located on 7th Street. The latter, a structure that President Donald Trump once criticized as "ugly" during his first term, has become the subject of controversy due to concerns over crime in the area.
While the decision is part of broader efforts to downsize federal government bureaucracy and reduce its footprint, the move to sell the buildings has sparked criticism from Democrats who see it as a retaliatory action.
Former Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier believes the potential sales could be viewed as payback from the Trump administration against both California and Pelosi, a prominent Democratic figure.
"It's another example of how he is coming after Democrats. He's coming after California, and it's all about payback," Speier told KGO-TV.
There are also concerns about the impact on federal employees and the potential for increased costs associated with leasing office space.
"The lease will keep going up and you will end up paying the property taxes of the lessor, whereas you don't pay federal taxes when you are a federal government," Speier added.
As of now, discussions are ongoing and the final decision regarding the sale of these properties has yet to be made.
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