ISTANBUL

The Trump administration on Wednesday abruptly removed a list of federal properties it had flagged for potential sale, including some of the US government's most recognizable buildings.

The General Services Administration (GSA) posted the list Tuesday, naming 443 properties as candidates for sale in an effort to cut maintenance costs. By Wednesday, the "noncore property list" had vanished without explanation.

In a statement, the GSA acknowledged receiving an "overwhelming amount of interest" and promised to release a revised list soon.

The original list included federal agency headquarters, major tax-processing centers and skyscrapers in cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Cleveland. Notably, it also named the Old Post Office in Washington, DC—the historic building that once housed Trump International Hotel.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the abrupt listing.

"You cannot dump buildings on the market without preparation or a plan, because it would be antithetical to making this the most beautiful capital city in the world," she said at a briefing.

The move appeared to be part of President Donald Trump’s broader push to reduce the size of the federal government—a downsizing effort spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

So far, the initiative has resulted in over 100,000 federal employees taking buyouts or facing layoffs.

The GSA has yet to clarify whether any properties will ultimately be sold or if the list will return in a different form.