Trump Administration Labels Judiciary 'Ill-equipped' to Manage Courthouses

The Trump administration is contesting the federal judiciary’s efforts to gain independent oversight of its courthouses, claiming the courts are "ill-equipped for the real estate job."

Edward Forst, head of the General Services Administration (GSA), made the remarks in a letter, intensifying strains between the judiciary and Republican President Donald Trump’s administration, which has repeatedly criticised judges and Supreme Court justices who rule against him.

Forst, who became GSA administrator in December, expressed his "surprise and disappointment" at the US Judicial Conference’s recent request to Congress to transfer authority over court buildings away from the agency, which has long acted as the courts’ landlord.

In a letter to Judge Robert Conrad, director of the Administrative Office of the US Courts, Forst warned of potential risks if "the unelected judiciary gained carte blanche authority to determine courthouse expenditure at the expense of American taxpayers."

He cited data showing that, from fiscal year 2021 to 2025, the judiciary accounted for 21 per cent of GSA-collected rent from federally owned buildings, yet facilities occupied by the judiciary made up 43 per cent of spending on major repairs and alterations. Based on this, he instructed the GSA to reassess repair and maintenance requests to "ensure taxpayer money is spent appropriately."

Forst also referenced a Government Accountability Office report last year, which found the judiciary had not fully coordinated with GSA or the US Marshals Service when developing new design requirements for courthouses, adding to construction costs.

A spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the US Courts said the judiciary had put forward a "thoughtful, responsible approach to a problem dating back at least 15 years," proposing a gradual transition in no more than ten districts initially, limited to major courthouses where it is the primary tenant, with further expansion contingent on successful management.

The judiciary currently occupies 396 government-owned buildings and 379 leased spaces nationwide, paying $1.3 billion annually in rent to the GSA, which oversees construction and upkeep.

On 24 February, the Judicial Conference asked Congress to transfer authority over courthouses, citing a "crisis" and $8.3 billion in overdue repairs. Conrad warned that "recent unilateral actions and reorganisation of GSA have only exacerbated these conditions."

As part of a cost-cutting initiative led by the Elon Musk-driven Department of Government Efficiency, GSA last year also demanded justification from the judiciary for some leases and suggested selling certain courthouses.

The judiciary noted that staff cuts under Trump halved GSA’s workforce, delaying security improvements and leaving nearly a quarter of courthouses with five or more judges without onsite building managers, worsening overall conditions.

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