On April 15, 2025, the White House issued an executive order to reform federal office space management. This order revokes two previous executive orders signed by Presidents Carter and Clinton, which prioritized federal facility locations in central business districts and historic properties, respectively. The administration contends that these earlier orders have limited agencies’ abilities to relocate to more cost-effective spaces, thereby affecting their capacity to serve the public efficiently.

The revocation is meant to provide government agencies with greater flexibility in selecting facilities that meet their operational needs while also being cost-effective. The new policy instructs the Administrator of General Services to initiate necessary regulatory amendments to realign federal office space management with the recent executive order. This strategy aims to streamline operations and enhance the overall delivery of services to American taxpayers.

The order specifies that it does not establish any enforceable rights against the federal government or its agencies and will be implemented in accordance with applicable laws and budgetary constraints. The goal of this directive is to bring practicality back to federal space management practices, thereby improving the government’s ability to serve the diverse populations across the United States.

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