Federal Oversight Hearing Reveals $4.6 Billion in Office Furniture Spending During Low Occupancy

Congressional testimony highlights lavish expenditures on underused federal properties as deferred maintenance costs surge to $370 billion.

Federal agencies spent over $4.6 billion on furniture since 2020, despite many offices operating at less than 25% capacity during increased telework.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that deferred maintenance costs for federal buildings have more than doubled to $370 billion since 2017.
Examples of extravagant spending include $120,000 on leather chairs for the U.S. Islamabad embassy and $1.4 million on artwork for various embassies.
House Oversight Committee hearings on April 8, 2025, focused on wasteful spending and inefficiencies in managing the federal real estate portfolio.
Efforts to address these issues include terminating nearly 800 federal leases, saving $500 million, as part of a broader push for government efficiency.