March report left out 20 million usable GSA square feet
The March 2026 utilization rates exclude GSA-controlled vacant space with no occupancy agreement. Leaving those feet out shrinks the denominator and lifts the rate. Table 2 puts the omitted space at 20,243,856 usable square feet as of July 2026.
The March 2026 utilization rates exclude GSA-controlled vacant space with no occupancy agreement. Leaving those feet out shrinks the denominator and lifts the rate. Table 2 puts the omitted space at 20,243,856 usable square feet as of July 2026.
On October 16, 2026, GAO said the first federal office-use report to Congress left out more than 20 million usable square feet of vacant GSA space without saying so.
Why it matters: Taxpayers keep paying to run space the public filing did not show. The next statutory step is the 2027 report. The House is in session November 9, 2026.
Date to watch: The House calendar marks November 9, 2026, as in session. October 29, 2026, is a district-work day. The sources do not date the 2027 utilization report.
Sources:
- GAO-27-108503, Federal Real Property (2026-10-16)
https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-27-108503/index.html - GSA, USE IT Act data release (2026-03-31)
https://www.gsa.gov/about-gsa/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-releases-use-it-act-data-03312026 - Legis1, Carolyn Robinson, federal property data gaps (2026-10-27)
https://legis1.com/news/federal-office-space-data-aids-cuts-but-gaps - Office of the Clerk, House legislative calendar (2026-10-28)
https://www.house.gov/legislative-activity - Public Law 118-272, section 2302, Utilizing Space (2025-01-04)
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-118publ272/html/PLAW-118publ272.htm - GAO-25-107743, High-Risk Series (2025-02-25)
https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-25-107743/index.html
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