Libertarian National Committee Plans to Rent Libertarian Party Headquarters

The Libertarian National Committee intends to begin renting out the Libertarian Party’s official headquarters at 1444 Duke Street, Virginia, according to remarks made Thursday by LNC Chair Angela McArdle.

In a message on the LNC’s public Business List, Chair Angela McArdle announced that, after months of discussion, she and Vice Chair Andrew Watkins decided to pursue renting the Libertarian Party’s headquarters as a way to generate additional revenue for the party.

McArdle noted that while the building is visually attractive on the outside, it is too small for effective use in hosting business meetings or events. She further argued that the party’s current staff members are spread across the country and predominantly work remotely at this point in time. The only exception is the staffer responsible for overseeing mailroom operations, whom she suggests can be more-effectively outsourced. McArdle added that the staff member in charge of mailroom operations would also assist with the transition.

McArdle was backed by Watkins, who stated: “I understand that having a building within the beltway fit the needs and desires of previous LNCs with wanting to have lobbying efforts and so on to somehow inspire change within the federal government. Personally, I find that unrealistic. Especially with that not having happened. The change we want to see will be obtained from the bottom up, not the top down, and we are already seeing that with many of our members putting pressure on state legislatures to pass Defend the Guard.”

According to McArdle, renting the building will allow the LNC to use the new additional revenue toward more pressing priorities, including further fundraising, membership cards, and other undisclosed revenue-generating projects. McArdle also hinted that the LNC may consider selling the current headquarters entirely. However, she currently deems it “logistically challenging” and said the party has more immediate matters that require her attention. In the meantime, the Libertarian National Committee will continue to manage the building’s upkeep and use its basement for storage while the organization seeks a suitable tenant.

This is not the first time that the topic of selling the party headquarters has come up within the current Libertarian National Committee. Former Operations Director Robert Kraus suggested selling the building in an email before his 2022 departure from the organization.