Michael Rigas is new acting GSA chief

The Trump administration has tapped Michael Rigas, a veteran official with prior GSA and State Department experience, as the new acting administrator of the GSA, replacing tech entrepreneur Stephen Ehikian, as reported by Washington Business Journal. The announcement marks another reshuffling of leadership within the agency tasked with managing federal real estate, procurement, and technology infrastructure governmentwide.

Rigas brings a blend of public and private sector experience, previously holding high-level posts during Trump's first term, including as GSA senior adviser and as acting director at the Office of Personnel Management. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, where he managed budget tightening and oversaw recent mass layoffs, demonstrating a no-nonsense approach to agency efficiency.

“Together, we will continue to keep front and center the importance of being good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars. This means helping other agencies be as effective and efficient as possible in their acquisition of goods and services, their use of technology, and their use and disposal of real property,” Rigas said in his first email to staff.

Ehikian, closely linked to DOGE’s efforts to modernize government procurement, is bumped down to deputy administrator. His tenure was marked by aggressive efforts to reduce federal real estate holdings, relocate agencies, and implement a contracting freeze. Now, with Musk’s departure from government, the White House appears to be steering GSA back toward more conservative stewardship.

Rigas’ acting appointment is capped at 210 days unless he is permanently nominated and confirmed by the Senate.