Nearly nine in 10 office buildings operated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) failed to meet the federal government’s 60% office utilization benchmark in 2025, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The watchdog found that 89% of DOT’s 189 office buildings were underutilized during August and September 2025, including the department’s headquarters and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters. The report says maintaining, operating, and leasing these underused offices costs the agency hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
FAA Consolidation Underway, But Questions Remain
DOT has begun consolidating FAA office space in the Washington, D.C., region, with plans to vacate the FAA headquarters complex by summer 2027. However, GAO said the department has not finalized where about 950 FAA headquarters employees will be relocated and has yet to produce detailed estimates of the expected cost savings.
According to the report, those uncertainties could prevent DOT from fully vacating the FAA headquarters, reducing the financial benefits of the consolidation effort.
GAO Calls for Department-Wide Space Plan
While DOT has taken steps to address the FAA headquarters, GAO said the agency lacks a broader strategy for reducing underused office space across its nationwide portfolio.
The report found that DOT’s largest office buildings averaged 34% occupancy, well below the 60% threshold established under the Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies (USE IT) Act.
GAO said the department could improve space utilization by adopting workplace strategies such as desk-sharing and reservation systems, noting that many DOT employees spend significant time away from the office conducting inspections and investigations.
The watchdog recommended that DOT complete its FAA headquarters consolidation plans and develop a department-wide office consolidation strategy aimed at increasing utilization and reducing real estate costs. DOT agreed with both recommendations.
