The Biden administration says federal agencies can lift limits on the number of employees agencies allow in the workplace. Agencies have to turn in their return-to-office plans by July 19. Those plans could affect federal property strategy.
- Daniel Mathews, former commissioner of the Public Buildings Service (PBS) at the General Services Administration, said the federal office portfolio is much larger than agencies need, and they should look to the private sector for strategies to reduce space immediately while also working on long-term plans.
- Mathews said designing federal space for the future will take time, involve uncertainty and require additional flexibility.
- Norman Dong, also a former PBS commissioner, said the uncertainty means agencies should consider shorter leasing arrangements, according to General Services Administration guidance.
