President Donald J. Trump has announced a new executive order focusing on federal office space management. The order aims to repeal two previous executive orders related to federal facilities, signed by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
President Trump's directive states that "executive departments and agencies must be where the people are" in order to provide "the highest quality services in an efficient and cost-effective manner." The executive order cites the need to offer agencies the flexibility to choose locations that meet cost-effectiveness criteria and enable them to carry out their missions effectively for American taxpayers.
The order revokes Executive Order 12072, signed by President Carter on August 16, 1978, which mandated prioritization of central business districts for federal facilities in urban areas. It also overturns Executive Order 13006, signed by President Clinton on May 21, 1996, which encouraged using historic properties in central business areas for federal facilities. The new directive argues that these prior orders hindered flexibility and cost efficiency in managing federal office spaces.
Furthermore, the order empowers the Administrator of General Services to initiate amendments to relevant parts of the Code of Federal Regulations and directs agencies utilizing federally owned or leased space to align with the order, provided they are consistent with applicable laws.
The order stresses that it should be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable laws and subject to the availability of appropriations. It also makes clear that the order does not create any enforceable rights for any party.
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