In the News

The Silvio O. Conte Federal Building is off the list of “surplus” buildings the Trump administration wants to sell for now, according to one of its chief tenants — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D–Springfield.

In March, the U.S. General Services Administration listed the building among multiple Massachusetts locations being considered for possible sale. That list, which disappeared from the site in a day, also included the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston and the Internal Revenue Service center in Andover.

“It's off the list at the moment. But given the impulsive nature of the decision making [in President Donald Trump’s administration] it could be put [back] on the list,” Neal said Thursday during an editorial board meeting at The Eagle.

“The Conte building serves a real purpose,” Neal said. “Social Security's there. Medicare, veterans benefits, my congressional office is there, and we're busy. I think any building that says it's an address for the United States of America, it's a pretty important property.”

Named for the late Republican U.S. congressman from Pittsfield, the Conte Federal Building at 78 Center St. is the only location for Veterans Affairs offices in Berkshire County. It’s also home to a VA outpatient clinic providing primary care and specialty health services, including mental health care and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

During his visit with The Eagle’s editors, Neal was asked about calls for Democrats to be more assertive in their opposition to Trump.

A recent letter to the state’s congressional delegation, signed by leaders of numerous city and town Democratic Party Committees, urges more aggressive steps, such as withholding unanimous consent in the Senate, and creating a “shadow cabinet” responding to Trump policies with alternatives. The letter also calls for replacing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

“There's appetite for it, but there's also an arithmetic problem in the House of Representatives, and there's an arithmetic problem in the Senate,” where Republicans hold slim majorities, Neal said.

But Neal thinks that anticipated efforts to cut popular Medicaid and Social Security benefits will give congressional Republicans cause to break with Trump.

“I think we also have to figure out how we're going to win the next round of congressional elections, which we should win next year,” Neal said, also expressing confidence that the midterm elections will in fact be held. “So I get the frustration that people feel, but I mean, I've consistently opposed everything, or virtually everything, that Donald Trump has attempted to offer, because I don't think it's well thought out on his side.”

Out of the public eye, Neal said, congressional Republicans “roll their eyes” in the hallway and elevators of the Capitol.

“I think Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits are not only worthy of defense, but also, I think they appeal to a broad section of people,” Neal said. “I think [Trump has] made a terrible miscalculation on the Medicaid front.

“[Trump’s approval number] has certainly gone south on the economy. And my hunch is that by summer, his number is going to be even more weakened. And if they do assail Medicaid, Social Security or Medicare or veterans benefits, then I think the break will take place.”

Neal also addressed the anxiety many have about the erosion of democratic norms and the denial of due process in cases involving immigrants seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

“I think there's a fear factor that's there for sure,” Neal said. “I do think that the Supreme Court's going to be a check on this presidency. … I've got confidence that the court's going to resist at the embrace of traditional conservative principles. But at the same time, there's going to be a lot of pain in between.”