How could the USE IT Act and GAO review affect the Office of Management and Budget?
The Office of Management and Budget must review federal building data under new utilization mandates. The USE IT Act requires federal agencies to demonstrate that their buildings meet at least a 60% utilization rate, prompting the Government Accountability Office to review the General Services Administration's data. To address the resulting findings and data gaps, GSA, which leads the Federal Real Property Council, established an occupancy working group that includes the Office of Management and Budget. This group is tasked with reviewing the utilization data and developing possible recommendations for federal real estate management.
- Effect
- Mixed
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Within weeks
- The story
- No new developments lately
How it reaches Office of Management and Budget
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Joe Biden signed the USE IT Act, which requires federal agencies to demonstrate that their buildings meet at least a 60% utilization rate or create plans to downsize their office space. The Government Accountability Office noted that gaps in the initial utilization reports from the General Services Administration are giving agencies an incomplete understanding of their real estate footprint. The General Services Administration's first snapshot showed thousands of federal buildings had not met the 60% utilization benchmark.
The full event1independent outlet -
The governmentwide Federal Real Property Council, which GSA leads, along with the Office of Management and Budget, has created an occupancy working group. This group was formed to review the utilization data collected under the USE IT Act and come up with possible recommendations. As a member of the occupancy working group, the Office of Management and Budget is required to participate in the review of the utilization data and contribute to the development of possible recommendations regarding federal real estate.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- govexec.com Thursday
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agency that prepares and evaluates the President of the United States' annual budget to Congress
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- The USE IT Act requires agencies to demonstrate that their buildings meet at least a 60% utilization rate.govexec.com
- The Federal Real Property Council, led by GSA, created an occupancy working group with the Office of Management and Budget.govexec.com
- 155 fully vacant buildings and leased spaces covering 4.6 million total usable square were not included in GSA's initial USE IT Act reporting.govexec.com
Why it matters
The Office of Management and Budget plays a critical role in guiding federal spending and ensuring government efficiency. The USE IT Act and the subsequent review force the OMB to engage directly with the complex issue of federal real estate utilization, which involves billions of dollars annually in operating and maintenance costs.
This effort is part of a long-standing concern flagged by the Government Accountability Office, which has warned about gaps in utilization data for over 20 years. The OMB's involvement helps shape the recommendations that will dictate how the federal government manages its vast portfolio of owned and leased office spaces.
What we don't know yet
- What specific recommendations will the occupancy working group propose to address the data gaps?
- How will the OMB integrate the utilization data review into future budget planning?
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
- DHSLikelyDHS may need to consolidate federal real estate under new utilization rules
- federal governmentLikelyThe federal government may face significant cost savings by downsizing underutilized office space.
- White HousePossibleWhite House may face changes to its federal real estate footprint due to utilization mandates
Reporting
- govexec.comThursday
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