Management
GSA updates standards to advance green federal buildings
The Biden administration wants federal buildings to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Tech
Hackathon imagines federal agency websites enhanced by artificial intelligence
GSA sponsored Wednesday’s competition, which took place in Washington, D.C., New York City and Atlanta.
Management
Federal employees exposed to lead and bacteria in water due to delayed GSA response, IG says
A new report found that water quality at a federal building in Detroit included potentially harmful levels of lead, copper and Legionella bacteria, and the Public Buildings Service did not respond to the threat promptly.
Management
The General Services Administration celebrates 75 years as the federal government’s landlord
The agency is central to efforts to promote green buildings and right-size the federal real estate portfolio.
Tech
As GSA turns 75, one of its leading technologists reflects on the agency's mission
Ann Lewis, director of the Technology Transformation Services, talks implementation, money and more.
Management
Biden administration pledges to help agencies offload more federal buildings
The government's real estate czar calls the post-pandemic building underutilization "concerning," but warns agencies will have to spend money to save money.
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Management
GSA unveils advisory committee for transparency initiatives
The committee will help foster new goals and initiatives under the Biden administration’s open government plan.
Oversight
Telework questions pervade recommendation that GSA work on space utilization data
While the amount of office space required by federal agencies has been a longstanding issue, there’s more attention on it due to the increased use of telework since the pandemic.
Oversight
GSA failing to monitor building maintenance contracts, watchdog says
A new report from the GSA inspector general found that contractors did not complete a majority of maintenance work orders sampled in six federal buildings.
Management
GSA lacks management controls for keeping foreign gifts, IG says
An inspector general’s audit of the agency’s Foreign Gifts and Decorations Program found that GSA officials were missing gifts from its inventory while also possessing prohibited items due to insufficient management practices.
Oversight
Contentious FBI headquarters plan looms over House hearing on real estate footprint
The House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management sought to examine the FBI’s strategy for managing its overall office space requirements, but the ongoing controversy over its potential new headquarters again took center stage.
Management
GSA hasn’t performed asbestos inspections at 66% of buildings requiring them, GAO says
The watchdog found that more than 600 federal buildings weren’t in compliance with GSA’s own asbestos management policy requiring facilities to be examined every five years.
Management
Biden administration preps potential largest ever federal carbon-free electricity purchase
New efforts are part of an aggressive timeline for agencies to reduce their emissions.
Workforce
Efforts to right-size agency real estate portfolios are often stymied
COMMENTARY | “There is a path forward and relevant, recent examples exist,” writes one former federal real estate official who urges the Biden administration to embrace the hybrid work model.
Management
Agencies would see sped up transition timelines and more resources for career officials under bipartisan bill
The Senate measure would mark the latest in a series of updates to make presidential transitions more orderly and efficient.
Pay & Benefits
GSA could soon update some relocation expense reimbursement caps more regularly
It’s been more than a decade since the agency updated the maximum amounts of payments for miscellaneous relocation expenses that don’t require itemized receipts.
Oversight
House committee wants FBI headquarters documents outlining Greenbelt decision
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman called for more information from the FBI, General Services Administration and the former official charged with selecting the site of the Bureau’s proposed headquarters about how the decision came to pass.
Management
GSA, FBI still at odds over headquarters selection, while House subcommittee smells ‘a rat’
Officials from the two agencies continued airing their dissenting positions over the Greenbelt site selection of the new FBI headquarters Tuesday, while subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., found the site’s connection to WMATA incredulous.
Management
House Oversight members take aim at former GSA official in request for FBI headquarters investigation
Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and member Gerry Connolly, D-Va., called on the General Services Administration’s acting inspector general to investigate potential political influence in the agency’s decision to select Greenbelt, Md., for the FBI’s main office.
Management