Trump rescinds Clinton, Carter era orders that limit federal office locations

President Donald Trump on Tuesday night signed an executive order that rescinds two previous orders under former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, that now gives the federal government more freedom to choose office locations.

The newly repealed orders required the government to prioritize housing offices in central business districts and historic districts, which Trump claimed “failed to adequately prioritize efficient and effective government service," by allowing the government to choose cheaper areas.

The move comes as the president works to drastically reduce the federal budget, and reshape the government. His new Department of Government Efficiency is leading the effort to save taxpayer dollars, by trimming the federal workforce and eliminating wasteful spending.

The new order also comes as the General Services Administration (GSA) sets an occupancy rate for federal buildings at 80%. If agencies do not meet the requirement, they could lose their office.

“One of the best ways to measure the efficiency of what we’re providing is the occupancy of our facilities," GSA Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters said earlier this month. "Just one problem with that: I could do a survey of all of us and say, ‘Well, what’s the occupancy of our buildings right now?’ My guess is I’d get a couple hundred different answers, because we have no idea."

Additionally, the action comes a day after the deadline for federal agencies to submit their potential plans to move office space away from Washington, D.C.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.