Downsizing and Space

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on federal government efforts to identify and manage federal office space that may be underutilized after agencies downsize. GAO noted that: (1) although it is still early in the downsizing process, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have taken steps to reduce the amount of underutilized federal office space; (2) neither GSA or OMB have developed a governmentwide strategy for managing in office space reductions specifically related to personnel downsizing; (3) individual agency strategies range from a proactive space management approach to those that would develop as downsizing proceeded; and (4) agencies do not project any net reductions in federal office space through fiscal year 1999, but they project an 18 percent reduction in total employment.