Published at Open the Books Substack

WASHINGTON (TNND) — One of the biggest wastes in the federal government is empty office space on prime real estate.

Public Policy Editor for Open the Books, Rachel O’Brien, says that federal agencies spend about $5 billion a year to lease buildings and another $2 billion to operate buildings, yet the offices remain less than half full.

"Selling these empty or underutilized spaces can save $430 million a year,” O’Brien said. “Now, DOGE says it can save more money.”