The Problems Must Be Bad For This To Happen During This Administration
Commissioner Bisignano and many other agency leaders have sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking for additional funding for building repairs and maintenance.
It’s always so easy for these dopes to whine about how much money it costs to run the government until they’re given the reins and actually have to run the government.
This request for additional money is unacceptable since it would take money away from the gorgeous green reflecting pool and the much anticipated ballroom.
I don't know enough about GSA to really understand what any of this means. But this sentence from the letter stood out to me - implying that somehow these GSA funding issues are standing in the way of efforts to sell off/consolidate federal buildings? "The inability to secure sufficient R&A funding has significantly impeded our efforts to reduce the Federal real estate portfolio through consolidation and optimization."
Precisely what I noticed. They’re tying themselves in knots trying to avoid admitting that previous administrations weren’t just wasting money and that maintaining the government’s real estate portfolio in fact costs quite a bit of money.
I, for one, hope Congress sees the bulls**t for what is is and tells the to go DOGE themselves.
DOGE wants to save money? Problem is an RTO is the most expensive way to drive up costs. Why not shutter these dilapidated buildings and let people telework?
They aren’t really interested in public service. Trump routinely claims to be paying for his stupid flamboyant interior decorating projects with his own money, when in reality he appears to have used misappropriated taxpayer dollars for all of them.
After this morning it looks like Trump can now just reappropriate funds Congress earmarked for other purposes and simply fire anyone who doesn’t help him along the way.
Goodbye separation of powers and Congressional authority. You were nice while you lasted. All swear fealty to King Trump, I guess. Enjoy this when the shoe is on the other foot, fascist MAGAs!
If any of the buildings disposed of are owned by SSA's trust funds, the proceeds should go to the trust fund. The Social Security Advisory Board put out a bipartisan statement on that last year: https://www.ssab.gov/research/trust-fund-buildings/
I think there was a case or a then-DOJ opinion that said under current law GSA, not SSA or Trust funds, would get such money from a sale. The law would need to be changed for this to happen. Good luck with that for at least this Administration.
yes, the SSAB piece addresses this. In 2010, DOJ issue an opinion siding with GSA's position rather than SSA's. But there isn't any case law on the topic. The 2026 DOJ is quite different from the 2010 one so there's no indication that DOJ would come out the same at this point, or how a court would rule. Agreed that it would be good for Congress to clarify, but it would be good for Congress to do many things and they are doing so few things...
So the current leaders should be given a pass to make things even worse because past leaders weren’t great either (in many cases because they were systematically denied adequate funding to maintain and improve things by one particular party committed to destroying the administrative state in favor of authoritarianism and fascism)? Sure, I guess that makes sense- if you’re dumber than a post.
Why do the last several commissioners want to spend more money on the buildings? Close them down, sell them off, and put the money back in the trust fund!
Only in America does an adjudicated sexual offender have this much power.
Federal employees now face the possibility of being disciplined or fired for misconduct based on the government’s “suitability and fitness” standards, on top of already-existing disciplinary proceedings. A final rule from the Office of Personnel Management, scheduled to publish Tuesday to the Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-13154/suitability-and-fitness), will let agencies apply the same considerations they use to determine whether federal job applicants are “fit” for government employment to all current federal employees as well.
The new regulations also give OPM the final say over all suitability determinations of current federal employees. Agencies will make their own initial assessments of whether an employee appears unsuitable for government service, then refer their determinations to OPM for the ultimate decision. If it’s found that a suitability action should be taken, OPM will then instruct the agency to remove the employee in question within five workdays. “This is creating a central clearinghouse for OPM to decide what employees on the rolls are undesirable to this administration,” Owen said. “This is a tool for OPM to take action against employees that OPM or the White House deemed to be undesirable.”
It’s always so easy for these dopes to whine about how much money it costs to run the government until they’re given the reins and actually have to run the government.
ReplyDeleteThis request for additional money is unacceptable since it would take money away from the gorgeous green reflecting pool and the much anticipated ballroom.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure “building repairs and maintenance” is code for Trump vanity projects.
ReplyDeleteI don't know enough about GSA to really understand what any of this means. But this sentence from the letter stood out to me - implying that somehow these GSA funding issues are standing in the way of efforts to sell off/consolidate federal buildings? "The inability to secure sufficient R&A funding has significantly impeded our efforts to reduce the Federal real estate portfolio through consolidation and optimization."
ReplyDeletePrecisely what I noticed. They’re tying themselves in knots trying to avoid admitting that previous administrations weren’t just wasting money and that maintaining the government’s real estate portfolio in fact costs quite a bit of money.
DeleteI, for one, hope Congress sees the bulls**t for what is is and tells the to go DOGE themselves.
Thank you Elon
ReplyDeleteDOGE wants to save money? Problem is an RTO is the most expensive way to drive up costs. Why not shutter these dilapidated buildings and let people telework?
ReplyDeleteThey'd rather sell the buildings and just fire the employees as opposed to letting them work remotely.
DeleteIn case you haven't figured it out, the administration really doesn't like federal employees and considers them unnecessary.
This cabinet is worth billions. Why not pass the hat to cover the upgrades?
ReplyDeleteThey aren’t really interested in public service. Trump routinely claims to be paying for his stupid flamboyant interior decorating projects with his own money, when in reality he appears to have used misappropriated taxpayer dollars for all of them.
DeleteAfter this morning it looks like Trump can now just reappropriate funds Congress earmarked for other purposes and simply fire anyone who doesn’t help him along the way.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye separation of powers and Congressional authority. You were nice while you lasted. All swear fealty to King Trump, I guess. Enjoy this when the shoe is on the other foot, fascist MAGAs!
If any of the buildings disposed of are owned by SSA's trust funds, the proceeds should go to the trust fund. The Social Security Advisory Board put out a bipartisan statement on that last year: https://www.ssab.gov/research/trust-fund-buildings/
ReplyDeleteI think there was a case or a then-DOJ opinion that said under current law GSA, not SSA or Trust funds, would get such money from a sale. The law would need to be changed for this to happen. Good luck with that for at least this Administration.
Deleteyes, the SSAB piece addresses this. In 2010, DOJ issue an opinion siding with GSA's position rather than SSA's. But there isn't any case law on the topic. The 2026 DOJ is quite different from the 2010 one so there's no indication that DOJ would come out the same at this point, or how a court would rule. Agreed that it would be good for Congress to clarify, but it would be good for Congress to do many things and they are doing so few things...
DeleteJuly 1st you always ask for more money!
ReplyDeleteSheeesh As if this agency has been running great at all for the last 20 years, you guys crack me up!
So the current leaders should be given a pass to make things even worse because past leaders weren’t great either (in many cases because they were systematically denied adequate funding to maintain and improve things by one particular party committed to destroying the administrative state in favor of authoritarianism and fascism)? Sure, I guess that makes sense- if you’re dumber than a post.
DeleteLet me guess! We'll soon be seeing lots of cheap gold fixtures in offices...
ReplyDeleteWhy do the last several commissioners want to spend more money on the buildings? Close them down, sell them off, and put the money back in the trust fund!
ReplyDeleteExcept, it doesn't go back into the trust funds. The proceeds of the sale go to GSA.
DeleteOnly in America does an adjudicated sexual offender have this much power.
ReplyDeleteFederal employees now face the possibility of being disciplined or fired for misconduct based on the government’s “suitability and fitness” standards, on top of already-existing disciplinary proceedings.
A final rule from the Office of Personnel Management, scheduled to publish Tuesday to the Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-13154/suitability-and-fitness), will let agencies apply the same considerations they use to determine whether federal job applicants are “fit” for government employment to all current federal employees as well.
The new regulations also give OPM the final say over all suitability determinations of current federal employees. Agencies will make their own initial assessments of whether an employee appears unsuitable for government service, then refer their determinations to OPM for the ultimate decision. If it’s found that a suitability action should be taken, OPM will then instruct the agency to remove the employee in question within five workdays.
“This is creating a central clearinghouse for OPM to decide what employees on the rolls are undesirable to this administration,” Owen said. “This is a tool for OPM to take action against employees that OPM or the White House deemed to be undesirable.”