U.S. Education Dept to Relocate HQ in 2026, Energy Takes LBJ Building

The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that it will vacate its longtime headquarters in the Lyndon B. Johnson building in Washington, D.C., and relocate to a smaller office building one block away, a move set for August 2026. The Department of Energy will take over the LBJ building, allowing both agencies to reduce costs amid ongoing federal restructuring.

The relocation addresses underutilization of space at the current headquarters, where officials said about 70 percent of the building remains vacant following significant workforce reductions. The Department of Education expects to save approximately $4.8 million annually in operating costs by moving to 500 D Street SW, a privately owned facility previously used as an annex for the U.S. Agency for International Development. For the Department of Energy, the switch from its James V. Forrestal building will avoid more than $350 million in deferred maintenance expenses. Officials emphasized that the transition will occur in phases to prevent disruptions to daily operations.

The decision forms part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to shrink the federal role in education and transfer responsibilities to...