The White House said the order would help the agency get closer to those they serve.
President Donald Trump signed the executive order on April 15th. This allows federal agencies and departments to move to cheaper office spaces and facilities outside of Washington as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce wasteful government spending.
Trump’s order retracts two long-standing enforcement actions issued by Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, demanding that the federal government find office spaces in the central business district.
Carter’s order, signed in August 1978, was intended to improve these business districts, but instead prevented agencies from relocating to low-cost facilities, Trump’s order said.
The Clinton order, signed in May 1996, was intended to encourage agencies to place facilities in historic facilities and districts, particularly if they are located in central business areas. However, it was not possible to properly assure that government services would be carried out efficiently and effectively in accordance with Trump’s orders.
“If we revoke these orders, we will restore common sense to federal space management by freeing agencies by selecting cost-effective facilities and focusing on successful US taxpayer missions,” Trump’s executive order said.
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Trump’s order directs administrators of the General Services Agency (GSA) that manages federal property to begin the process of updating federal register regulations and take other steps necessary to ensure federal space management policies are compliant with his orders.
It points out that agencies that acquire or utilize federally owned or leased space must comply with the order.
Deferred maintenance liabilities for such buildings currently exceed $17 billion, and in many cases the liabilities exceed the actual value of federal agencies’ property, the fact sheet says.
Government Efficiency (DOGE) reviews have led to the cancellation of federal leases nationwide in recent months as they seek to reduce wasted government spending in 2026 and save $155 billion from the federal budget.
The contract with an agency that oversees water resource management covered the 79,869 square feet of building. Finishing it saved me about $18,630,308, according to Doge.
Additionally, the agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley, Massachusetts covered 72,220 square feet and cost an annual lease of $1,590,490. According to Doge, closing that lease is expected to save the government $11,595,327.
According to Doge, the lease with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Los Angeles, California, which covered the 57,903-square-foot building and reached $2,464,948 a year has been cancelled.
The lease is expected to save the government $9,812,520, Doge said.
