Many changes await the General Services Administration (GSA) in the wake of President Trump taking office. From the various appointments and new faces at GSA to suspensions and real estate sales, a lot has happened since the President was recently inaugurated.

On the same day Trump returned to office, Stephen Ehikian was sworn in as Acting Administrator and Deputy Administrator of the GSA.  As former Vice President of AI Products, Ehikian will oversee GSA’s real estate portfolio, federal contracts, and technology service. He states that his goal is to improve the efficiency of government procurement and fast track the use of technology government wide.

Four other appointments were also made to GSA within the President’s first week in office.  These include Michael Peters as Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service, Josh Gruenbaum as Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, Thomas Shedd as Deputy FAS Commissioner/Director of Technology Transformation Services, and Russell McGranahan as General Counsel.

On January 24, 2025, a memorandum was sent out to all heads of service, staff offices, GSA acquisition workforce, and GSA leasing workforce informing them of an immediate pause in acquisition.  More specifically, there will be a suspension on the execution of new GSA funded obligations. It was also explained that the suspension is being initiated in order to give the new administration time to settle into office and learn the ongoings of GSA acquisition and leasing departments.  No time frame other than “until further notice” and “short -term” were given.  This suspension will include new awards, task and delivery orders, modifications, and options. Exclusions to the acquisition pause are as follows:

• Actions to support the President, Vice-President and the Secret Service in ensuring security any dollar level
• Actions in support of FEMA at any dollar level
• Emergency and urgent obligations below $50,000 (e.g. in response to a declared disaster, or to protect life and property)
• Assisted Acquisitions other than those for advisory and assistance services
• Reimbursable Work Authorizations below $50,000
• New awards for offers, modifications and options under the Federal Supply Schedule other than in support of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Vehicles for the federal fleet other than zero emission vehicles
• Contract actions in support of GSA Global Supply and client support centers
• All options, bridges, and extensions (to include AbilityOne follow-on contracts as these are considered extensions of service) for services keeping buildings operational e.g., maintenance, custodial and landscaping/snow services.

Any obligations or award actions not listed in the memorandum will need to be reviewed/approved by the Acting Administrator, Stephen Ehikian, or designee before any decisions can be made. In an effort to expedite these reviews, GSA urges the requests to be submitted to the correct office.

All GSA contract holders will still be able to modify their GSA schedule.

Federal Acquisition Service review requests should be sent to the Office of Policy and Compliance at documentreview-fasqv@gsa.gov.

Public Building Service review requests should be sent to the Office of Acquisition Management at pbsoampolicy@gsa.gov.

Review requests for Leases should be sent to the National Office of Leasing at  Leasing@gsa.gov

And finally, Office of Administrative Services review requests should be sent to the Office of Government-wide Policy at SPE.Request@GSA.gov.

Another big adjustment for GSA will be in the reduction of real estate and office space. One major change according to the new commissioner of Public Buildings Service, Michael Peters, will be the decrease of up to 50% of its current office space with the majority coming from Washington D.C.  GSA has already sold some underutilized property that was costing billions of dollars in maintenance. However, many are concerned with how this will all play out as Trump’s directive to have federal employees return to the office was signed on his first day in office. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is also in the process of terminating leases that have been deemed excessive.

Other changes can be expected after the new administration grasps an understanding of the ins and outs of GSA. There are plans to increase the use of technology across agencies in an effort to be more efficient.

With so many new initiatives on the horizon, it can be difficult to understand the many implications for current contract holders. Let Coley GCS know if you need guidance in understanding the acquisition pause memorandum or have general questions about your current contract and compliance. Coley GCS specializes in guiding clients through the complexities of GSA offers and modifications. Our expert team of advisors works closely with clients to ensure execution and alignment with all facets of change.

Coley has over 24 years of experience helping thousands of companies obtain and manage their GSA schedule.  With our support, you will be able adjust to the many updates GSA releases each year and ensure you remain compliant. Contact us today at hello@coleygsa.com, by phone at 210-402-6766, or book a time to discuss how to get started—a critical step on your road to success in the government market.

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