T
he Trump administration has unexpectedly reversed its decision to sell nearly 80 million square feet of federal property, a move that undermines President Donald Trump's efforts to significantly downsize the government. The about-face came after just 18 hours, during which time over 100 properties were removed from a list of 443 considered for sale. By Wednesday morning, the entire list had been taken offline with a message stating "Non-core property list (Coming soon)." A General Services Administration spokesperson declined to explain the sudden reversal.

    The decision was part of Trump's efforts to shrink the federal government, which he has referred to as a "swamp." However, his administration has faced numerous setbacks in recent weeks. The president and his billionaire adviser, Elon Musk, have had to undo spending freezes, rehire government employees, and walk back management directives.

    The original list was notable for its breadth, including properties in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Many of these buildings were historic landmarks or hubs for taxpayer services, handling small business loans, Social Security benefits, and health and safety enforcement. The sale of some properties could have created unique problems, such as disrupting commercial real estate markets or affecting sensitive government operations.

    The Trump administration has also been pushing for federal workers to return to the office after years of liberal work-from-home rules. However, Musk's efforts to curtail the government through his White House office, DOGE, have faced new practical and legal hurdles in recent days. The Office of Personnel Management walked back a directive telling federal agencies to cut probationary employees, while the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to pay up to $2 billion to contractors for the U.S. Agency for International Development.