Forced Federal Relocations Were Sold as Savings. The Receipts Show Millions in Costs.

This summer's forced federal employee relocations were presented as cost-cutting, but public records gathered by NPR show the government is still paying millions of dollars a year for space it left behind. NPR looked at relocations at six agencies. The records it obtained raise a fair question: how much is it costing the government to save money?

NASA: Five Empty Floors Through 2031

NASA had worked out of space at Columbia University for more than 50 years. Last year the administration moved employees out, saying the goal was to save money. This summer, those employees were told to report to four new locations across New York City. According to NPR, the government is still paying about $2.5 million a year for the five empty floors it left behind, and that obligation runs through 2031. One NASA employee told NPR the move "made zero sense."

USDA: Leaving Washington for Washington

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said leaving Alexandria, Virginia, would protect taxpayer dollars from "expensive real estate inside the Washington, D.C. area" and bring the department "closer to the farmers and ranchers we serve." Staff were moved to a building in Washington, D.C., and a building in Beltsville, Maryland, a Washington suburb. Meanwhile, the Alexandria lease costs more than $4 million a year and runs through 2034.

The Beltsville building was treated for a bedbug infestation in May. The agency told staff it expected the problem to be fully mitigated by the time they arrived. In late July, it told staff it was still working on it. NPR asked USDA about the bedbugs and the lease and received no response.

Forest Service: A Reorganization During Fire Season

In April, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz told Congress, "We do not anticipate moving any of the field personnel in any fashion until after the fire season." On July 22, with dozens of wildfires burning across multiple states, the Chief emailed all staff that the reorganization would begin that week.

The same day, Rep. Angie Craig told him, "You need congressional approval to implement this reorganization." The Chief's position is that the agency only has to inform Congress. Rep. Craig responded, "I don't take the flaunting of congressional intent lightly." The union's answer has been a lawsuit.

CFPB: Back to the Office Without a Working Office

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employees were ordered back to a newly rented building in Washington. There were not enough desks, and there was no working Wi-Fi for three to four weeks. One employee said, "There's no main internet." Staff worked off personal phone hotspots.

HUD: A Housing Agency Sued Over Where It Lives

Federal law says the Department of Housing and Urban Development cannot move its headquarters out of Washington without Congress, and HUD's founding law says the department is "established at the seat of government." Secretary Scott Turner moved the headquarters to Alexandria, Virginia. The District of Columbia Attorney General has sued, and the complaint says more than 80 percent of the agency had already relocated.

Adding Up the Savings

The costs in the public record so far include about $2.5 million a year for NASA's empty floors through 2031, more than $4 million a year for USDA's Alexandria lease through 2034, and more than $3 million to move the Army Corps of Engineers' computer systems to an office that had not yet been leased.

It is important to be precise about where things stand. These are lawsuits, not verdicts, and whether Congress had to approve these moves is a question for the courts. As one union representative put it: "You're not supposed to be doing this. But oversight hasn't done anything about it."

What This Means If You Are Being Relocated

If your office is moving, or you have been directed to report to a new location, a few steps can protect you no matter how the larger legal questions are resolved:

• Get the directive in writing, including the new duty station, the report date, and who issued the decision.
• Keep a private record of workplace conditions that affect your ability to do your job, such as missing equipment, connectivity problems, or health and safety issues, and report them through official channels.
• Note any deadlines in the notice and ask what options and deadlines apply to you before you respond.
• Talk with your union representative or a federal employment attorney before declining a relocation, since the consequences can be serious and depend on your situation.

Relocations raise questions that are specific to your position, agency, and appeal rights. If you are facing one, the federal employee lawyers at Southworth PC can help you understand your options.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation.