Latest / The Fiscal Policy Podcast with Fexingo: Government Budgets, Stimulus, and Public Spending
How the US Government Pays Rent on Empty Buildings
The US government is the largest tenant in the country, leasing over 370 million square feet of office and warehouse space. But nearly a quarter of that space sits empty — while taxpayers keep footing the bill. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down how the General Services Administration manages this portfolio, why agencies hold onto unused leases for years, and what a proposed reform — the 'Lease versus Purchase' rule — actually means. They look at one specific example: a 12-story federal building in downtown Kansas City that has been 70 percent vacant since 2018, costing $4.6…
The skinny
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