US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Tuesday, “Restoring Flexibility to the Management of Federal Office Space,” aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs in the siting of government offices.
The document formally rescinds two executive orders in place since the late 20th century – President Jimmy Carter’s 1978 order directing that federal buildings be located in central business districts and Bill Clinton’s 1996 executive order that encouraged the use of historic buildings in those same districts.
According to the Trump administration, these executive orders no longer fit modern realities and prevent government agencies from moving to cheaper and more convenient office space outside of urban centres. As a result, the executive order argues, both the budget and the quality of services provided to the public suffer.
Federal agencies are now given more freedom to choose office locations – whether suburban or rural – where the cost of rent and maintenance can be significantly lower. This is particularly relevant given the widespread adoption of telecommuting and the need to optimise the use of taxpayer-funded real estate.
The Executive Order also directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to begin the process of amending existing federal regulations to bring them in line with the new policy.
The document emphasises that its provisions do not violate existing law or create new legal rights, but are merely intended to make smarter and more efficient use of federal real property.
