DHS seeks emergency demolition at historic St. Elizabeths
The Department of Homeland Security has asked the General Services Administration to approve the emergency demolition of 17 vacant historic buildings on the St. Elizabeths West Campus in Washington, D.C., citing a December 19 security assessment that says they pose "unacceptable" safety and security risks to the developing DHS headquarters complex. Four buildings have already received approval from federal planning bodies, while DHS is now pushing to clear the remaining 13 without the usual historic‑preservation review, arguing the structures could be exploited by intruders or malicious insiders for small‑arms or active‑shooter attacks, even as the National Historic Landmark psychiatric hospital campus is supposed to be preserved under prior plans.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent a Dec. 19 memo to GSA stating that 17 vacant buildings at St. Elizabeths West Campus "present a risk to life and property" and that "demolition is the only permanent measure" to resolve the emergency.
- A DHS security risk assessment warns the buildings could be accessed by unauthorized individuals and provide a tactical advantage for small‑arms or active‑shooter scenarios, including exploitation by "malicious insiders."
- Four buildings already have demolition approval, while DHS is seeking emergency designation to bypass normal review for the remaining 13, according to preservation officials.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and GSA spokesperson Marianne Copenhaver both told Fox News that demolition is being pursued as a necessary safety and security step and that GSA will follow applicable laws and regulations.
📊 Relevant Data
St. Elizabeths Hospital admitted African American patients from its inception in 1855, which was exceptional as it was one of the few American asylums to do so at the time.
The exceptionalism of St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC — Medium
St. Elizabeths Hospital had separate East and West Lodges planned to house African-American patients, reflecting segregation practices despite admitting patients of all races.
St. Elizabeths Hospital (U.S. National Park Service) — National Park Service
As of June 2022, over $2.8 billion has been appropriated for the DHS headquarters consolidation at St. Elizabeths, with inconsistent funding contributing to increased costs and delays.
DHS Headquarters Consolidation: Project Cost and Schedule Estimates Remain to Be Finalized — GAO
Ward 8 in Washington D.C., where St. Elizabeths is located, has a population that is approximately 88% African American, with a poverty rate of 27% and median family income of $50,653.
Ward 8 Snapshot — DC Action
Child poverty in Ward 8 is 38%, compared to 2% in Ward 3, with Ward 8 residents experiencing higher poverty rates and lower incomes.
III.B. Overview of the State - District of Columbia - 2024 — MCHB TVIS
Under 36 CFR 800.12, emergency provisions for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act apply to undertakings implemented within 30 days after a disaster or emergency is formally declared.
36 CFR § 800.12 - Emergency situations. — Cornell Law School