Federal Government Real Estate in Transition with Dana McNeil

In this episode of PlotLines, we tackle one of the most pressing headlines in commercial real estate right now: the massive shift underway in federal government real estate.

Dana McNeil, Founder and Principal of Archer RECS, brings deep expertise and firsthand knowledge to the conversation. As the General Services Administration (GSA) prepares to cancel roughly 1,000 federal leases across the country, the federal government is taking bold steps to reduce its footprint and reshape how—and where—it occupies space.

Dana walks us through the potential impact of this 13% reduction in leased space, highlighting how these decisions could affect everything from urban vacancy rates to rural economic development. She also unpacks the broader implications of return-to-office mandates, asset disposal efforts, and the push toward portfolio realignment, all against the backdrop of federal budget constraints and changing workplace expectations.

For real estate investors, developers, and city planners, this moment represents both a disruption and an opening. Dana outlines where the private sector can engage, how public-private partnerships can bring value, and what needs to be true for underutilized assets to be repositioned successfully.

Tune in to hear why Dana would rewrite the headline for federal government real estate as “Federal leasing: With great challenge comes great opportunity.”

Listen to the full episode below and follow along for our next guest!