GSA’s vision: Streamlined operations and smarter spending

Stephen Ehikian, acting administrator of GSA, has unveiled his vision for GSA, reshaping how federal agencies manage real estate, procure goods, and deploy technology. Ehikian aims to “cut wasteful contract spending and rationalize IT infrastructure” to help government organizations optimize their resources and modernize operations.

Addressing GSA employees, Ehikian outlined four key priorities:

• First, his team is determined to “rightsize” the federal buildings portfolio. Deferred maintenance liabilities have soared beyond $17 billion—surpassing property values in some cases—prompting GSA to sell off underused and costly assets.
• Second, Ehikian intends to streamline and centralize procurement for common goods and services, giving the government greater leverage in negotiating prices. He also hopes to simplify compliance standards so that best-in-class and smaller businesses can compete more readily.
• Under the third pillar, GSA will rationalize its IT infrastructure by standardizing tools and embracing modern practices like generative AI. By consolidating systems and piloting AI solutions, Ehikian believes agencies can save time, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance productivity.
• Finally, GSA aims to “practice what it preaches” by applying the same efficiency models within its own operations.

Ehikian positions GSA as the “backbone of federal government operations,” tasked with modernizing procurement, real estate management, and technology adoption.