The General Services Administration (GSA) is undertaking a significant hiring initiative to recover from substantial workforce reductions implemented last year. The agency, which supports federal operations through real estate, contracting, and IT services, plans to onboard approximately 400 employees over the next six months to strengthen its workforce.
Rebuilding After Workforce Reductions
After losing nearly 40% of its total workforce since October 2024, GSA is now focusing on addressing critical staffing needs. The Public Buildings Service (PBS), a branch of GSA that manages over 8,300 owned and leased federal buildings, was particularly impacted by the reductions, with some regional offices eliminated entirely. In a March 30 email to staff, PBS Chief of Staff Donna Dix emphasized the importance of the hiring initiative:
"This strategic initiative will create a variety of opportunities, including merit promotions and leadership roles for career advancement, as well as external hiring to bring in critical resources. This comprehensive approach represents a significant investment in PBS’s future", Dix wrote.
The initial hiring phase will prioritize positions in facilities management, acquisition, and project management, areas deemed most essential for the agency’s operation. Dix also highlighted opportunities for current PBS employees to advance within the organization, stating, "Whether you’re looking to grow within your current career path or welcome new colleagues who will help us achieve our goals, these upcoming positions will help foster growth and ensure we have the right talent in the right places."
GSA’s Strategic Challenges
The extensive layoffs from last year were part of broader efforts to reduce GSA’s footprint and operating expenses. During this period, the agency disposed of 90 federal buildings, cutting its real estate portfolio by 3 million square feet and generating $182 million in sales revenue. These moves also saved $415 million in repair and operational costs. However, the workforce reduction outpaced the agency’s ability to shrink office spaces, creating operational challenges.
At its peak, the workforce cuts aimed to eliminate 63% of the PBS workforce, though that target was later scaled back. In the aftermath, GSA offered 400 laid-off workers the chance to return to their positions last fall, marking an early step in its recovery process.
Expanding Recruitment Efforts
In addition to filling PBS roles, GSA is also targeting early-career professionals to join its Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). Through its Acquisition Talent Development program, GSA plans to recruit 54 recent graduates as part of its latest cohort. The FAS has been instrumental in negotiating lower-cost deals for governmentwide services with major companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon AWS.
Despite its achievements, FAS has faced its own challenges, losing 30% of its workforce since October 2024. The program is now looking to rebuild its talent pool to maintain its capacity for managing contracting functions and driving initiatives such as the OneGov program.
Focus on In-Office Attendance
As part of its efforts to optimize operations, GSA has reintroduced a daily check-in policy to monitor employee attendance in federal offices. Employees are required to submit a Google form each day, indicating whether they are working in their assigned building, teleworking, or on leave. This data will support compliance with the Trump administration’s full-time office attendance requirements and help assess building occupancy across GSA-managed facilities.
GSA Deputy Administrator Mike Lynch explained the rationale behind the policy in an email to employees: "We’ve learned a lot about employee reporting and space optimization over the course of the last year, particularly when it comes to our own infrastructure and the reliance on technology and badge tools that don’t always fully capture accurate data."
The agency’s snapshot of building occupancy from last month revealed that none of the 9,700 federal buildings included in the study met the 60% minimum occupancy requirement set by law. Lynch stated, "We also know that we are still not at the target utilization rate we want to see." He added that the data collected will help GSA "make smart decisions on how we reinvest in our workspaces and technology to support a more effective in-office work environment."
Dual Responsibilities for GSA Leadership
As GSA moves forward with its recovery initiatives, its top administrator, Ed Forst, has taken on an additional role as the acting head of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Forst assured GSA employees that his dual responsibilities would not interfere with the agency’s operations, writing, "I want to be clear about what this means for GSA: our mission, priorities, and organizational structure remain unchanged."
This dual appointment follows the departure of Secretary of State Marco Rubio from his acting role as national archivist in February. President Donald Trump recently nominated Bradford Wilson to serve as NARA’s permanent leader.
As GSA works to rebuild its workforce and navigate operational challenges, the agency’s hiring initiative marks a crucial step toward restoring its capacity to fulfill critical federal functions effectively.
