Senators push GSA to dispose of unused property to reduce waste

“The GSA Inspector General’s finding that there were hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper expenditures related to this conference is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable,” they wrote.

{mosads}The GSA conference led the agency to undertake an internal review of cost controls. But letter encouraged GSA not just to stop spending on wasteful conferences, but to initiate a process for disposing of excess buildings.

“We ask that you consider the structure of GSA’s Public Buildings Service and the need to address long-standing property management problems so that we can minimize wasteful spending,” they wrote. “In doing so, it may be helpful to work with Congress and the Committee to develop additional legislative authority to help accomplish the goals of improved financial and operational management of federal real property.”

Back in March, the House approved the Excess Federal Building and Property Disposal Act, H.R. 665, which would set up a five-year program for disposing of excess buildings that lead to more than $1 billion in annual operating costs.

The senators encouraged Tangherlini to consider a Senate bill, S. 2178, that would also facilitate the sale of unneeded buildings. That bill has not moved in the Senate since being introduced in March.