It's About Time

Director Jeff Zients said the Office of Management and Budget is freezing the federal real-estate footprint, which means it is prohibiting agencies from buying or otherwise increasing their civilian properties except under certain conditions. OMB said agencies have saved $1.5 billion by selling, consolidating or canceling real estate projects and reducing maintenance and utility costs. It estimated that the government would save $3.5 billion in real estate costs by the end of the year. Also, it told agencies to use existing vehicles and not replace cars until they have been driven for at least three years or 60,000 miles.