Douglas V. Gibbs ——Bio and Archives--November 6, 2025

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President Donald Trump is actively pursuing plans to sell federal properties to private buyers, particularly underutilized buildings and public lands, as part of a broader effort to shrink the federal government’s footprint and raise funding. Senator Joni Ernst introduced the Disposal Act, which lists six prime properties in Washington D.C. for immediate sale. The bill aims to cut through bureaucratic red tape and fast-track the sale of underused government buildings. The Trump administration previously published a list of over 440 federal buildings targeted for closure or sale, including major sites like the FBI headquarters and DOJ building. Though the list has been revised a few times, and then ultimately was later removed from public release, the existence of it in the first place signals serious intent to sell federal properties to private buyers.

A sovereign wealth fund has been proposed by President Trump, which would serve as a U.S. Government savings account separate from the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury. The General Fund is used for government’s day-to-day operations like one’s checking account to pay bills. But the sovereign wealth fund would be more like an investment portfolio meant to build long-term wealth. Rather than operating like the General Fund which simply collects taxes, spends them, and borrows into debt, the sovereign wealth fund would invest money, investing to grow national wealth. Norway, for example, uses oil money to invest globally and earns billions. The sovereign wealth fund would be fed by monies from natural resource revenues or budget surpluses, generating economic benefits that would grow the country’s wealth, stabilize the economy, and create a pool of money that can be tapped into for long-term priorities like pensions, infrastructure, or debt reduction. President Trump, after all, is a businessman, so he’s treating Uncle Sam like a potentially smart investor, hoping to make money for America rather than just collecting and spending taxes. The initial funding of the sovereign wealth fund would come from the sale of federal land and buildings, particularly large tracts of federal real estate in the western United States. While still in early stages, the idea reflects a shift toward leveraging government-owned assets rather than relying solely on taxation or borrowing.

The grand plan is to downsize government operations and reduce costs, while growing its assets. To accomplish the feat the General Services Administration (GSA) reportedly plans to sell half of the federal property it manages, aligning with Trump’s push for a sovereign wealth fund. The move initially was designed to coincide with a 90-day hiring freeze for federal agencies. Shortly after taking office President Trump did implement a federal hiring freeze, but it did not last the full 90 days in practice. It actually lasted about 79 days before being replaced by new bureaucratic guidance. Trump has moved to........

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