Federal Agencies Missed Available Shared Office Space

Low awareness of shared meeting resources leads to inefficient real estate use across federal agencies.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Remote Work

Isometric editorial illustration of a sparse, modern federal meeting room with a central concrete pillar and empty chairs. — A GAO report found that most federal agencies remain unaware of or unable to access shared meeting facilities managed by the GSA. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should federal agencies be required to share office resources to reduce government spending?

A recent Government Accountability Office report found that federal agencies remain largely unaware of shared meeting facilities managed by the General Services Administration. Despite the GSA maintaining a list of over 130 spaces for more than a decade, only one of 18 agencies interviewed was aware of the resource.

Why it matters

Personnel turnover and outdated contact information have left agencies struggling to coordinate facility use, creating potential inefficiencies in office management. Security barriers and incompatible technology further discourage departments from utilizing these shared assets.

GAO investigators interviewed 18 federal agencies across four cities to assess the usage of more than 130 meeting spaces managed by the GSA. While the GSA has offered this list for over a decade, usage remains stagnant due to outdated email records and organizational turnover.

The players

Government Accountability Office

A federal legislative branch agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services to Congress.

General Services Administration

The federal agency that manages government buildings, supplies, and real estate assets across the United States.

Edward Forst

The GSA Administrator responsible for overseeing federal real estate management and agency operational policy.

The details

Agencies report that security protocols, inconsistent Wi-Fi access, and firewall restrictions make cross-departmental space sharing difficult. Because usage levels remain low, the GSA does not upgrade the technology in these rooms, creating a cycle of declining utility. Administrative personnel cuts have further eroded the capacity of agencies to identify and coordinate the use of available shared facilities.

The GSA has maintained the shared meeting space list for more than a decade prior to September 2026.
Federal workforce turnover began impacting the accuracy of contact lists at the start of 2025.
The GSA attempted to update its master list by reconnecting with agencies over the past year.

Market Landscape

This development highlights the ongoing struggle to optimize underutilized office assets, echoing broader corporate challenges in remote and hybrid work environments. The findings follow the pattern set by federal efforts to consolidate real estate footprints amid shifting operational demands.

Operators managing shared facilities should audit their internal communication channels to ensure stakeholders are aware of available assets. Incompatible tech and security protocols remain the primary barriers to adoption, making standardizing IT environments essential for shared space initiatives.

The takeaway

Effective resource sharing requires current contact data and a clear technology policy to overcome security and access hurdles. GSA Administrator Edward Forst has committed to improving agency awareness, a shift operators should monitor to see if increased usage triggers equipment upgrades.