Approximately 1,600 federal employees from the General Services Administration (GSA) have relocated from their office on F Street in Washington, DC, to the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building, located about two blocks away. Employees have reported issues in the new building, including the presence of mice, a caved-in bathroom ceiling, and drinking water that requires running for five to ten seconds before it is clear.
Since January 2025, the federal workforce has experienced significant changes due to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. This initiative resulted in the termination of tens of thousands of workers and mandated in-person schedules for remaining employees, along with the implementation of zero-based budgeting. The GSA, responsible for the federal government's IT services and real estate assets, was impacted early by DOGE, leading to workforce reductions and plans to sell hundreds of federal office buildings. A year after these cuts, GSA announced intentions to hire approximately 400 workers.
One anonymous GSA employee expressed concerns about the conditions, stating, "We’ve all been through a lot, but this really made me finally understand that they don’t care about us. We’re left wondering what else is going to collapse or break—do we need to look at the ceiling before going to the bathroom? Can we actually trust the water is safe to drink?"
Images obtained by WIRED depict a toilet in a men's restroom covered in debris from the ceiling, a hole in the ceiling, and a dead mouse in a trap. While employees noted that vermin are common in many federal buildings, the ceiling damage was particularly alarming. A sign in the office advises employees to run water for five to ten seconds before filling water bottles to ensure it is clear.
GSA and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) did not respond immediately to requests for comment. GSA leadership, including Administrator Ed Forst, informed employees that they should expect to work in the OPM building, which is scheduled for "accelerated disposition" or a quick sale, until December 2028. The previous building at 1800 F Street is undergoing extensive renovations as part of a government-wide effort to reduce underutilized space and strengthen the federal real estate footprint, according to a GSA press release.
Although Musk has reduced his public involvement in the Trump administration, DOGE affiliates continue to work in government, focusing on austerity measures and AI initiatives. Some have returned to the private sector, engaging in AI, data centers, and manufacturing.