Budget crunch makes GSA popular

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GSA Administrator Martha Johnson is getting an unprecedented amount of phone calls from agency leaders who want money-saving options.

 
Martha Johnson, administrator of the General Services Administration, said she often has to explain to people that GSA doesn’t stand for the Girl Scouts of America.

Many people don’t know exactly what GSA does, despite its “huge operational authority,” Johnson said at 1105 Media’s FOSE Conference July 21.

However, that is all changing now that the government is facing a budget crunch.

Johnson said the “tipping point” occurred five weeks ago when she started getting phone calls from the heads of federal agencies desperate to have a conversation about how GSA can help them find additional resources for programs.

During those lengthy discussions, Johnson said everything is on the table, including rent and costs stemming from printers, fleet, supply chain and travel.

“GSA is right in the middle of the maelstrom of this budget situation,” she said.