GOP’s SWAMP Act Targets Pelosi Building in Fiscal Strategy Move

GOP's SWAMP Act Targets Pelosi Building in Fiscal Strategy Move

Republicans fire a shot across Nancy Pelosi’s bow with a new bill aimed at selling the federal building bearing her name to help tackle America’s massive national debt.

At a Glance

  • Rep. Buddy Carter has introduced the “SWAMP Act” to sell the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco
  • The bill directs the GSA to sell the 18-story building at fair market value
  • The initiative aligns with Trump’s 2020 executive order targeting “underutilized” federal properties
  • The federal government is currently more than $36 trillion in debt

The SWAMP Is Draining Pelosi’s Building

In a move that’s sure to ruffle feathers in the Democratic establishment, House Republicans have introduced legislation that would put the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building on the market. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is leading the charge with the aptly named “Stop Wasteful Allocations of Money for Pelosi Act” — or SWAMP Act — which directs the General Services Administration to sell the 18-story San Francisco structure at fair market value. The building currently houses various government offices, including Pelosi’s own district office.


The proposed sale is part of a broader Republican strategy to advance fiscal responsibility while simultaneously taking aim at a symbol of Democratic power. The bill specifically instructs the GSA to determine the “highest and best use” of the property before putting it up for sale, suggesting Republicans believe taxpayers would be better served by private development of the prime San Francisco real estate than by maintaining it as a monument to the former Speaker.

Fiscal Responsibility or Political Statement?

While the GSA has claimed that any potential sale of federal buildings is not politically motivated but rather part of efforts to reduce deferred liability costs, the targeting of Pelosi’s namesake building sends a clear message. The structure was previously criticized by President Trump in a 2020 executive order as “one of the ugliest structures” in San Francisco, indicating this effort may be both practical and symbolic in nature.

“We are over $36 trillion in debt. Instead of maintaining expensive, underutilized vanity projects for liberal politicians, the federal government should be focused on efficiency and fiscal responsibility” – Rep. Buddy Carter

Carter’s statement cuts to the heart of conservative frustration with government spending. With the national debt having ballooned to unprecedented levels, Republicans are increasingly questioning why taxpayers should foot the bill for buildings named after politicians who have presided over that very debt explosion. The SWAMP Act represents a tangible step toward addressing this concern, even if it’s primarily symbolic in the context of the larger debt crisis.

Part of a Broader Trump Agenda

The effort to sell the Pelosi building aligns with the GOP’s commitment to advance Trump’s agenda through legislative means. During his first term, Trump issued an executive order calling for the revitalization and potential sale of federal properties deemed unnecessary or underutilized. By codifying this approach into law, Republicans are ensuring that such fiscal discipline measures can continue regardless of who occupies the White House.

Fox News has reported that Pelosi’s office has not responded to requests for comment about the proposed sale of her namesake building. The silence is telling from a politician who has never been shy about defending her legacy. Perhaps even Pelosi recognizes the difficult optics of defending an expensive federal building bearing her name while everyday Americans struggle with the consequences of decades of fiscal mismanagement in Washington.

A New Era of Fiscal Common Sense?

The SWAMP Act represents more than just a political jab at Nancy Pelosi; it symbolizes a growing recognition that the federal government owns far too much real estate and manages it poorly. By requiring that this particular building be sold at fair market value, Republicans are signaling that taxpayers deserve to have their assets managed with the same care and consideration that individuals apply to their own finances.

As the bill makes its way through Congress, it will serve as a test case for whether Washington can begin to address its addiction to spending and property accumulation. For conservatives who have long complained about government waste and excess, the SWAMP Act offers a glimmer of hope that common sense might finally be returning to our nation’s capital—one federal building at a time.

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