Washington, D.C.— Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Greg Stanton (D-AZ) and fellow T&I Democrats wrote to Commissioner of Public Buildings Mike Peters, demanding increased transparency from the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS) on the number of federal building leases in holdover, the distribution of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding, and workforce reduction.
“While touting government efficiency, the Trump Administration is causing massive inefficiency,” the Members wrote. “Requiring all federal workers to return to the office five days a week when their offices do not have sufficient space is inefficient. Terminating leases without understanding the value or necessity of the work being done within that space is inefficient. Requiring people to report to workstations hundreds of miles away from their homes is inefficient. Terminating leases that the government does not have the legal right to terminate and then rescinding the termination is inefficient. Terminating leases and not telling the agencies in the leased space is inefficient.”
“Shuttering offices, terminating leases, relocating agencies—each of these activities require experienced contracting officials and real estate experts as well as complex planning, budgeting and execution between PBS and its tenants,” the Members continued. “We are concerned that PBS will not be able to adequately perform its duties because its own workforce is in disarray and that having agencies hold over in space after their lease has terminated is expensive for the government.”
To read the full letter, click here.
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