US EditionUS judiciary asks Congress for authority over courthouses in 'crisis'
The judiciary cites a backlog of $8.3 billion in repairs and seeks gradual control of courthouse management away from the General Services Administration.
- On Tuesday the U.S. federal judiciary asked Congress to manage its courthouses, citing a $8.3 billion backlog and proposing the Space and Facilities Management Effectiveness Act of 2026.
- Judicial leaders said decades of poor oversight prompted the judiciary to seek control, citing 'The recent unilateral actions and reorganization of GSA have only exacerbated these conditions', Conrad wrote.
- The judiciary occupies 396 government-owned buildings and 379 leased spaces, paying $1.3 billion annual rent to the GSA, which demanded lease justification for 160 locations in February 2025.
- Conrad urged Congress to act now to reverse system failures, while the GSA disputed the 'crisis' claim, citing funding and aging-building challenges.
- The GSA's efficiency drive, linked to Elon Musk–spearheaded Department of Government Efficiency, listed at least six courthouses for disposition, with one sold in Oregon and Iowa.
5 Articles
5 Articles
Federal Judiciary Asks Congress for Authority to Manage Its Own Courthouses
The federal judiciary has asked Congress to pass legislation giving it the power to manage its own courthouses. If the request is granted, this change would shift that authority from the General Services Administration (GSA), which is part of the executive branch. The Judicial Conference, which is the rule-making body for the federal courts, sent a draft bill on Feb. 24 to administration and congressional leaders, proposing a gradual shift in pr…
US judiciary asks Congress for authority over courthouses in 'crisis'
The U.S. federal judiciary on Tuesday asked Congress to give it the power to manage its own courthouses and shift authority away from the executive branch, saying decades of inadequate oversight exacerbated by recent actions by President Donald Trump's administration had left them in crisis.
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