Trump administration eyes canceling leases for space used by US judiciary
Source: Reuters
February 14, 2025 2:43 PM EST Updated 5 hours ago
Feb 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk's push to radically overhaul the federal government is now reaching the U.S. court system with a demand that the judiciary justify why the administration should not cancel leases for space it utilizes at 160 locations nationally.
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the federal judiciary's administrative arm, in an internal memo issued on Thursday said it received the lease inquiry from the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages federal property for various parts of the government including the courts.
Those potential lease cancellations were one of a number of issues the memo sought to address arising from what it described as the "fast pace" and "highly dynamic situation" presented by executive branch agencies seeking to carry out Trump's agenda. The leases are for spaces at about 160 locations that are utilized by courts and federal public defender offices, which are part of the judiciary and provide lawyers for indigent criminal defendants, according to the memo.
Paul Gamble, the Administrative Office's chief of the facilities and security office, in the memo said the judiciary "intends to work with GSA to ensure that judiciary operations in each of these locations can continue undisturbed." The Administrative Office declined to comment. The GSA had no immediate comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-eyes-canceling-leases-space-used-by-us-judiciary-2025-02-14/
One more time. There are *3* Branches of government and the Executive Branch does NOT have "the power of the purse". THAT is the job of the Legislative Branch. The Judiciary has its own line items in Appropriations bills that the Legislature passes and the President signs. They are currently operating on a C.R. that President BIDEN signed into law so 45 has no authority over any of the funding mechanisms. The Executive Branch doesn't control the Judiciary and request budgets for it, the Judiciary does their OWN requests. They will work together to facilitate implementation but they are STILL separate Branches.
As an example - this is from one of last year's House draft Appropriations bill that covers Treasury, the Judiciary, and odds ends related to D.C. -
(snip)
TITLE III
THE JUDICIARY
Supreme Court Of The United States
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For expenses necessary for the operation of the Supreme Court, as required by law, excluding care of the building and grounds, including purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1343 and 1344; not to exceed $10,000 for official reception and representation expenses; and for miscellaneous expenses, to be expended as the Chief Justice may approve, $136,000,000, of which $1,500,000 shall remain available until expended.
In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under current law for the salaries of the chief justice and associate justices of the court.
CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS
For such expenditures as may be necessary to enable the Architect of the Capitol to carry out the duties imposed upon the Architect by 40 U.S.C. 6111 and 6112 under the direction of the Chief Justice, $13,506,000, to remain available until expended.
United States Court Of Appeals For The Federal Circuit
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For salaries of officers and employees, and for necessary expenses of the court, as authorized by law, $37,500,000.
In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under current law for the salaries of the chief judge and judges of the court.
United States Court Of International Trade
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For salaries of officers and employees of the court, services, and necessary expenses of the court, as authorized by law, $21,700,000.
In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under current law for the salaries of the chief judge and judges of the court.
Courts Of Appeals, District Courts, And Other Judicial Services
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For the salaries of judges of the United States Court of Federal Claims, magistrate judges, and all other officers and employees of the Federal Judiciary not otherwise specifically provided for, necessary expenses of the courts, and the purchase, rental, repair, and cleaning of uniforms for Probation and Pretrial Services Office staff, as authorized by law, $6,106,841,000 (including the purchase of firearms and ammunition); of which not to exceed $27,817,000 shall remain available until expended for space alteration projects and for furniture and furnishings related to new space alteration and construction projects.
In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under current law for the salaries of circuit and district judges (including judges of the territorial courts of the United States), bankruptcy judges, and justices and judges retired from office or from regular active service.
In addition, for expenses of the United States Court of Federal Claims associated with processing cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law 99660), not to exceed $11,686,000, to be appropriated from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund.
DEFENDER SERVICES
For the operation of Federal Defender organizations; the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys appointed to represent persons under 18 U.S.C. 3006A and 3599, and for the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of persons furnishing investigative, expert, and other services for such representations as authorized by law; the compensation (in accordance with the maximums under 18 U.S.C. 3006A) and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys appointed to assist the court in criminal cases where the defendant has waived representation by counsel; the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys appointed to represent jurors in civil actions for the protection of their employment, as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 1875(d)(1); the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys appointed under 18 U.S.C. 983(b)(1) in connection with certain judicial civil forfeiture proceedings; the compensation and reimbursement of travel expenses of guardians ad litem appointed under 18 U.S.C. 4100(b); and for necessary training and general administrative expenses, $1,500,000,000, to remain available until expended.
FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS
For fees and expenses of jurors as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 1871 and 1876; compensation of jury commissioners as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 1863; and compensation of commissioners appointed in condemnation cases pursuant to rule 71.1(h) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 U.S.C. Appendix Rule 71.1(h)), $38,555,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the compensation of land commissioners shall not exceed the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable under 5 U.S.C. 5332.
COURT SECURITY
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, incident to the provision of protective guard services for United States courthouses and other facilities housing Federal court or Administrative Office of the United States Courts operations, the procurement, installation, and maintenance of security systems and equipment for United States courthouses and other facilities housing Federal court or Administrative Office of the United States Courts operations, building ingress-egress control, inspection of mail and packages, directed security patrols, perimeter security, basic security services provided by the Federal Protective Service, and other similar activities as authorized by section 1010 of the Judicial Improvement and Access to Justice Act (Public Law 100702), $777,361,000, of which not to exceed $20,000,000 shall remain available until expended, to be expended directly or transferred to the United States Marshals Service, which shall be responsible for administering the Judicial Facility Security Program consistent with standards or guidelines agreed to by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Attorney General: Provided, That funds made available under this heading may be used for managing a Judiciary-wide program to facilitate security and emergency management services among the Judiciary, United States Marshals Service, Federal Protective Service, General Services Administration, other Federal agencies, state and local governments and the public; and for purposes authorized by the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2022 (Public Law 117263, division C, title LIX, subtitle D) and 28 U.S.C. 604(a)(24).
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spooky3
(37,131 posts)I hope they tell him to GFH.
BumRushDaShow
(148,526 posts)
Irish_Dem
(65,479 posts)The let a vicious, ruthless psychopath get away with his crimes.
Handled him with kid gloves and gave him special treatment no one
else in the US would ever get.
They refused to protect the public from this monster.
Now the monster has turned on them.
When he was just attacking the US and the public, the judges were fine with it.
Now he is attacking the judges, maybe they will wake up the hell up.
Oh wait, it is too late.
milestogo
(19,784 posts)Irish_Dem
(65,479 posts)They slow walked everything.
Ignored his contempt of court behavior.
Handled him with kid gloves and treated him with great reverence.
Always gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Let him control the court schedule.
Refused to jail him.
The list goes on and on.
They were the primary reason we have lost our democracy.
They should hang their heads in great shame.
Every single one of them.
milestogo
(19,784 posts)tinymontgomery
(2,790 posts)"One more time. There are *3* Branches of government and the Executive Branch does NOT have "the power of the purse".