Trump administration plans to get rid of 50% of government buildings

• The federal government plans to reduce the amount of property it owns and leases by 50%. The Public Buildings Services commissioner said the portfolio is bloated.
• Commissioner Michael Peters said he wanted his employees to know about the reduction as they consider the Trump administration’s buyout offer.
• A December report from Sen. Joni Ernst found the government owns 7,697 vacant buildings.

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The federal government is planning to reduce the amount of property it owns and leases by 50%, according to a memo from the Public Buildings Services (PBS) commissioner. The memo, obtained by reporter Lisa Desjardins, outlines how the Trump administration’s plan to cut costs will not only affect workers but also impact government-owned infrastructure.

PBS Commissioner Michael Peters wrote to his employees, “You will not be surprised to learn that this analysis has revealed a gross excess of space in the portfolio as well as substantial levels of deferred maintenance.” 

Peters added that the bloated office stock has led to overspending and suboptimal working conditions. 

Peters said he wanted employees to be aware of the downsizing plan as they consider the Trump administration’s buyout offer. The offer will allow them to resign and continue receiving their full pay and benefits through September.

“[General Services Administration] is going to be a substantially smaller organization in the future,” Peters wrote. “I wanted you to be aware of it as you consider your ‘Fork in the Road’ decision.” 

PBS, which falls under GSA, maintains federal properties nationwide. It owns or leases more than 8,800 offices that serve as the workspace for 1.1 million federal employees. The buildings are located across the country.

A December report by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, revealed that the government owns 7,697 vacant buildings and another 2,265 partially empty buildings. Maintenance, leases and energy costs for these buildings cost more than $15 billion a year.

Ernst’s report also found that just 6% of federal employees work in the office full time, while about one-third are fully remote. 

In January, President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal employees to return to the office. It is unclear how much space agencies need for a complete return.