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EO 12411Executive OrderReagan · R

Executive Order 12411

Government work space management reforms

This executive order directs all federal executive agencies to reduce and optimize their use of workspace and furnishings, minimize administrative costs, and report excess space to the General Services Administration. It delegates authority to the GSA Administrator to set government-wide standards, conduct surveys, and establish reporting systems for workspace utilization.

48 FR 13391
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Impact dates

  1. Establish information systems and inventory controls per GSA procedures

  2. Establish workspace management plans per Section 1(g)

Key directives

  • Establish programs to reduce workspace to essential levels for agency missions
  • Produce and maintain total inventory of workspace and furnishings; declare excess to GSA Administrator
  • Minimize office space per employee to necessary levels
  • Manage furnishings to reflect judicious use of public funds
  • Report vacant workspace to GSA for temporary use by other agencies
  • Establish workspace management plans with goals and actions
  • Establish information systems and inventory controls per GSA procedures
  • GSA Administrator to conduct surveys and establish agency-wide workspace objectives
  • GSA Administrator to establish procedures, guidelines, and regulations for planning and reporting systems

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Agency heads must begin establishing workspace reduction programs
  • GSA Administrator authorized to begin issuing procedures and guidelines

Near term (90d)

  • Agencies must develop workspace management plans with specific goals
  • Inventory systems and reporting mechanisms to be established

Long term

  • Government-wide reporting system development
  • Ongoing space optimization and cost reduction across federal government

Risks & tensions

  • No specific deadlines or enforcement mechanisms specified in text; compliance timeline left to agency discretion and GSA guidance
  • Tension between 'minimum necessary' space and 'known agency missions' creates subjective standard open to interpretation
  • National defense exemption for vacant space reporting may create loophole
  • Cost-shifting between agencies (Section 1(e)) lacks concrete mechanism; may result in unfunded coordination burdens
Executive Order 12411: Government work space management reforms · Executive Orders