Times are Tight - Fed Gov't Making Cutbacks

I read this morning that the Obama administration now wants to make cuts and eliminate excess properties held by the government. It's nice to see an administration finally looking at Federal agencies and eliminating waste (why wasn't this done over the last 40 years?). I applaud these efforts to cut back on paying for empty buildings and property! *Full article below*
- Speaking of cutbacks, Congress is trying to freeze raises for Federal employees this year. I have NO problem with not getting a raise this year. There are so many people unemployed, a raise would increase the deficit, and I'm grateful that I have a job. I don't mind a pay freeze. I think we all need to do our part to help out. We can't expect the government to fix everything without our help. After all, it takes people to make a nation. - Rob
ARTICLE: Pay Freeze? We Need To Talk
Last month the House and Senate, by very narrow margins, defeated a plan to freeze federal pay at current levels until at least January, 2012. Many pro-fed lobbyists think Congress will try it again before the November elections.
FULL STORY: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=20&sid=1978247

Obama orders cuts in federal building costs
In an effort to curb government spending, President Obama issued a two-page memo Thursday morning directing federal agencies to identify and eliminate at least $3 billion in excess real estate by the end of fiscal 2012.
The memo states the administration's "[commitment] to eliminating all forms of government waste and to leading by example as our nation transitions to a clean energy economy." It also calls surplus properties too expensive and bad for the environment.
Agencies are expected to begin selling off property and canceling leases. More savings may also come from eliminating the operating and maintenance costs of unnecessary buildings. This will accompany the Defense Department's expected saving of about $9.8 billion between 2010 and 2012 created by its Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts.
The President says previous efforts to reduce spending on properties produced only minor savings. He says there is a need to "[make] more efficient use of existing assets" through "innovative approaches to space management and alternative workplace arrangements, such as telework."
The administration estimates agencies own more than 200,000 properties, and more than 65,000 more are considered under used.
Obama identified data centers, office buildings, warehouses, and laboratories as common types of excess properties. Full article: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php?nid=376&sid=1977363