Federal Law Enforcement Searches for New Office Space in Cities Nationwide

Trump Administration officials are on the hunt nationwide for more office space for federal law enforcement. 

The General Services Administration (GSA) issued a competitive lease proposal, seeking fully furnished office space in 21 cities. The GSA proposal advertised for office space above ground level with 70 desks, a storage room, a 24/7 server room, and sound privacy for “confidential discussions.” It discourages any agencies or tenants that could have “security, operational or reputational conflicts” with federal law enforcement. 

The cities include the following: 

• Birmingham, Alabama; 

• Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Naples, and Sunrise, Florida;

• Boise, Idaho;

• Des Moines, Iowa;

• Louisville, Kentucky;

• Grand Rapids, Michigan;

• St. Louis, Missouri;

• Raleigh, North Carolina;

• Columbus, Ohio;

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;

• Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina;

• Richmond, Virginia;

• Spokane, Washington;

• Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

While the specific law enforcement tenant was not announced, the Washington Post and NPR reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is hunting for additional space, as it ramps up hiring thousands of immigration enforcement officers and lawyers. 

The Post reports that ICE officials have expressed the view that “money is no object” and are putting “intense pressure” on GSA officials to sign leases as fast as possible. 

GSA meanwhile refused to comment publicly but issued the following statement. 

"GSA is committed to working with all of our partner agencies to meet their workspace needs," read the statement. "GSA remains focused on supporting this administration’s goal of optimizing the federal footprint and providing the best workplaces for our federal agencies to meet their mission."

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