New Trump administration moves to shrink the federal footprint are creating whiplash in an already confused and scrambling Washington.

Why it matters: The administration's push to sell government buildings and end government leases could disproportionately affect Washington's economy.

• Stunning stat: The federal government owns or leases a third of D.C.'s office space.

The directives are also causing chaos among stressed federal workers — some of whom are being told they must work in office, but also that their agencies' leases are being terminated.

The latest: The General Services Administration (GSA) on Tuesday announced that hundreds of federal buildings were for sale, with about a third concentrated in the DMV.

• The list featured about 17 million square feet of D.C. property, including well-known sites like the Justice Department's headquarters and the Department of Agriculture's building near the National Mall.

But then the GSA seemed to shift course: Later that day, all of the D.C. properties, and many in Virginia and Maryland, had been removed from its list.

• And by Wednesday, the entire list had been removed from GSA's website.
• GSA plans to republish the list after it evaluates the "overwhelming amount of interest" it received in the targeted properties, it said in a release shared with Axios.

Meanwhile, a GSA representative didn't show for a Congressional hearing on federal buildings Wednesday.

• Several members of Congress expressed concern about how quickly GSA is targeting buildings for disposal, as well as what they see as a lack of communication from GSA.
• Many said they'd found out that important civic buildings in their districts had been targeted via the news or word of mouth.

Plus: Elon Musk's DOGE is working to slash government leases.

• Agencies have until mid-April to submit plans for moving D.C.-area offices to less expensive parts of the country, and to identify properties that can have their leases terminated.
• And DOGE says they've already terminated or let expire several government leases around the region, according to a list published by the group. They include a Department of Homeland Security office in Arlington and a Bureau of Labor Statistics site in D.C.

👀 Some area landlords reported receiving termination notices even though contractually their leases can't be cut at this time, Washington Business Journal reports.

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Long-running food festival New Kitchens on the Block is back, and the preview party for upcoming DMV bars and restaurants is as exciting as ever.

Why it matters: NKOTB is a rare chance to try local businesses before they open — some from star chefs and others from rising talents you should know.

How it works: Co-founders Al Goldberg of Mess Hall — which hosts the Saturday, April 26 event — and food writer Nevin Martell curate a lineup of forthcoming bars and restaurants for their 11th festival. Some will open soon, others are still searching for spaces.

• Guests will sample food and drinks from nearly a dozen vendors. Limited early-bird passes (starting at $99 or $139 VIP) are now available via Eventbrite.

We got an exclusive sneak peek at who's coming.

Marcus DC, a seafood-focused brasserie from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson (Harlem's Red Rooster), is opening by Union Market. ETA: Spring

• Samuelsson, an Ethiopian-born, Swedish-American chef, has taken over three venues in The Morrow Hotel (deets coming soon). The brasserie will serve global fin fare—raw, cured, and dry-aged—plus steaks and comfort food classics.

Barbouzard, a French-Mediterranean restaurant helmed by chef Cedric Maupillier (ex-Convivial), is opening near Farragut Square. ETA: Spring/Summer.

See the full list

President Trump on Saturday issued an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States, but the U.S. is a "melting pot" of languages spoken.

Zoom in: Nearly 20% of the D.C. population spoke a language other than English at home.

• 8.7% spoke Spanish, while 2% spoke French.

💰 As D.C. braces for budget cuts, Mayor Bowser is proposing increasing funding for schools, hoping it will keep residents from moving out of the city. Her proposal would spend $2.9 billion on public schools, up $123 million from this year's budget. (Washington Post)

📍 D.C. is planning a job fair for civil servants looking for new jobs amid federal cuts and threats of layoffs. The event will be at Gallaudet University on March 14. (WTOP)

🎤 Cynthia Erivo, the star of "Wicked," will headline WorldPride DC's festival on Saturday, June 7 on Pennsylvania Avenue. (NBC4)

❌ Broadway musical "Hamilton" canceled plans to bring the show to the Kennedy Center next year after Trump's takeover. (AP)

🏛️ See who's hiring around D.C.

1. Retail Associate at Washington Nationals.
2. Officer, Clean Energy Policy at Pew Charitable Trusts.
3. Director of Infrastructure, Energy and Permitting at Arnold Ventures.
4. Director, Legislative Affairs at NACWA.
5. Director of Marketing & Communications at Indiana University Hamilton Lugar School.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

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Maryland is laying the horn on residents registering their cars in Virginia, where insurance and fees are less expensive.

Why it matters: Maryland says it loses millions of dollars in revenue, but there's little the state can do to go after the vehicle owners, the Baltimore Banner reports.

By the numbers: Virginia notified Maryland about 107,000 vehicles registered in Virginia but tied to an address in Maryland, according to a Maryland ​​Motor Vehicle Administration report last June.

• The MVA whittled the list down to 46,000 people whose vehicles were previously registered in Maryland. About 30% of the vehicles were linked to neighboring Prince George's County.

Context: A Virginia loophole had allowed drivers to register their car in the state without insurance by paying a one-time fee. Lawmakers closed the long-exploited provision last July.

Between the lines: Maryland is in a budget crunch, so it needs every dollar.

What we're watching: Maryland House lawmakers want to pass a law allowing the city to tow or impound such vehicles.