Federal Agency's Unused Office Space Costs Hundreds of Millions Annually

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is significantly underutilizing its office space, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Despite President Trump's 2025 executive order requiring federal employees to return to in-person work, GAO auditors found that 89% of DOT's 189 office buildings were underutilized based on the 60% occupancy threshold set by the 2023 USE IT Act. Average occupancy rates were just 37% for owned buildings and 41% for leased buildings. The DOT and FAA headquarters alone, totaling 1.8 million square feet, cost over $100 million annually in rent and $25 million in operations, yet were only one-third full. The report identifies 168 underutilized buildings with combined annual costs of $370 million. The GAO recommends the DOT adopt desk-sharing systems and consolidate space, noting the department has resisted such measures.