The island-platformed station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and is located on the Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines.

In preliminary maps, this was named Voice of America station, after the government-owned radio service located a block away.

[2] In September 1971, Department of Health, Education and Welfare secretary Eliot Richardson suggested the current name, noting that "The Voice of America is by far the smallest agency in the Southwest area".

[3] Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)[4] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, Smithsonian, and Stadium–Armory stations.

[6] Silver Line service at Federal Center SW began on July 26, 2014.