Already under withering fire for out of control Las
Vegas conference expenses, the General Services Administration will face
renewed budget scrutiny when the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee begins a round of GSA budget hearings April 17. The Obama
administration is requesting $495 million for GSA building renovations in 2013,
plus $56 million for new GSA construction. The $551 million requested is
already under criticism from Republican committee leaders who have been
criticizing GSA for having too many underutilized buildings, in Washington D.C.
and across the country.
The House 2013 budget resolution passed March 29 is
accompanied by a Budget Committee report including one of several “Illustrative
Policy Options” calling for a one year bar on new GSA construction. GSA’s
construction fund has been cut from $894 million in 2010 to $82 million in 2011
and a mere $50 million in 2012. The already depressed construction industry
will apparently be the one doing penance for the sin city sins of GSA western
region officials.
