In The News

 In 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a review of the actual utilization of 24 agency headquarters buildings to better understand how the federal government is utilizing its real estate portfolio. On average, 17 of the 24 agency headquarters reviewed were at 25 percent or less utilization, with some agencies as low as nine percent.  

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee, joined EPW Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), House T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-06), and House T&I Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA-10) in sending a letter to the Trump administration highlighting provisions included in the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which provided new authority for the administration to rightsize the federal real estate portfolio and save taxpayers billions of dollars. 

In their letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought, Acting Administrator of the General Service Administration Stephen Ehikian, and Commissioner of the Public Building Service Michael Peters, the lawmakers refer to the “Public Buildings Reforms” section of WRDA 2024. These reforms give the administration new authorities to improve the management of the federal government's real estate portfolio, address its inefficient utilization of office space, and require federal agencies to bring employees back into the office or lose office space.

“To maximize the effectiveness of these provisions, it is critical that implementation begins as soon as possible to meet deadlines and take full advantage of the authorities provided to the administration in this legislation,” the lawmakers wrote.

The members explained federal real estate portfolio is bloated and, “Even if 100 percent of the federal employees returned to the office, the taxpayer would still be paying for excess space. For example, one agency that was the subject of GAO’s 2023 review reported that, even if all their employees came into the office on the same day, only 67 percent of their headquarters building would be utilized.

“It is unacceptable for American taxpayers to pay for space that is sitting empty, and we urge you to utilize these new authorities to consolidate federal space and support your efforts to direct employees to return to work in-person,” concluded the members. “As Chairmen of the Congressional Committees and Subcommittees with jurisdiction over public buildings and improved grounds of the United States, our committees are willing to assist the administration’s efforts to protect the taxpayer’s dollar.”

Cramer previously joined U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in sending a letter to the Public Building Reform Board, requesting it complete the final round of disposals required under the Federal Assets and Transfers Act (FASTA) and FASTA Reform Act to bring “tangible benefits” to the taxpayer.

Click here for the letter.

Click here for original press release.