Snuggle Up Co-Workers

It's about to get a lot cozier in some federal offices. A House committee is lowering the limit on the average square footage workers will get under new office leases, Federal Times reports. The new average will be 157 square feet — down 20 percent from the 200 square feet limit in effect for a decade. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has the final say-so over leases negotiated by the General Services Administration. The calculation for personal space includes most common areas such as conference rooms and cafeterias. However, it does not include restrooms, closets and stairwells. A new lease at 1800 G Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., gives State, Justice and VA workers 155 square feet each. New leases for the State Department will give workers 156. A lease in New York will give Homeland Security Department workers a stingy 138 square feet per person.