Latest news with #GeneralServicesAdministration
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump installs new GSA acting administrator, sidelines DOGE leaders
President Donald Trump has appointed Mike Rigas as acting administrator of the General Services Administration, effectively layering DOGE-aligned Stephen Ehikian and Josh Gruenbaum atop the agency. Rigas, a Trump administration veteran who has served as deputy secretary of State for Management and Resources and as acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, announced the move in a message to GSA staff on Monday morning. 'Today, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, I have assumed the responsibilities of Acting Administrator of GSA,' Rigas wrote. GSA staffers and people close to the Department of Government Efficiency view this appointment as a strategic move by the White House to rein in Ehikian, the former acting administrator, and Gruenbaum, the commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service within GSA. They were chosen by DOGE's former operational lead, Steve Davis, to lead DOGE after Davis and Elon Musk left government, according to three people familiar with the internal workings of DOGE and GSA and granted anonymity to speak candidly. The change in leadership is a notable shift for GSA, one of two federal agencies that Musk came closest to controlling earlier this year. It's also the most significant public step that the White House has taken to diminish the role of Musk loyalists following the tech mogul's exit. "The GSA has been a pillar of this success, and the President has full confidence in their ongoing work to advance this transformative agenda,' White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement. Davis, who attempted to retain influence at GSA even after his departure from government, had a falling out with senior White House officials last month. Conversations about finding a new acting administrator started in mid-June when the White House found out about Davis' efforts, one of the people said. In a nod to DOGE's work, Rigas emphasized that the agency will continue to prioritize the mission of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. 'This means helping other agencies be as effective and efficient as possible in their acquisition of goods and services, their use of technology, and their use and disposal of real property,' he wrote. Monday marked the start of Rigas' third stint at GSA. Ehikian will remain at the agency as deputy administrator, according to the internal note. GSA has also made two new additional hires within the last two weeks, according to agency records: Doug Hoelscher of the America First Policy Institute and Kevin Hennecken, an investment analyst at BlackRock.
Politico
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
DOGE lead Steve Davis did not go quietly
That's because Davis was acting as if he'd never left. Not only did he remain in touch with staffers, asking for DOGE updates and making requests, he also led a DOGE meeting on the sixth floor of the General Services Administration a week after the White House had said he departed, according to two people familiar with the events granted anonymity to speak about them. At the meeting, he announced a DOGE 2.0 in which DOGE would be more collaborative with Cabinet secretaries — a proposal that never came to be, one of two people said. 'He was at the GSA running the meeting like it was business as usual,' the person said. Several DOGE employees including Yinon Weiss, Sam Corcos, Ryan Shea, and Adam Blake privately questioned Davis' role running DOGE as a non-government employee, according to the two people. 'A lot of people got uncomfortable,' one of the people said of the dynamic after the White House sent the message about not communicating with Davis. 'So many people received that message from the White House and I think that bothered them, that Steve was continuing to tell everybody that everything is normal and to act like he is still involved in running the show.' Concerned about the potential legal ramifications of taking direction from someone who the White House had instructed them not to, some sought guidance from the DOGE general counsel Austin Raynor, who clarified that Davis is no longer a government employee. Davis responded by dispatching a trio of allies — GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian, Josh Gruenbaum, and Anthony Armstrong — to assess people's loyalty, the two people said. He also installed the troika as the new leaders of DOGE. 'They claimed authority from [Vice President] JD Vance and [chief of staff] Susie Wiles but actually did not and do not have it — they were bluffing,' the second person said, adding that the White House is aware of these claims and has been working to ensure everyone understands that these three only have authority at the GSA, not the broad remit that characterized DOGE's early days.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Google to discount cloud computing services for US government: Report
Google will heavily discount cloud computing services for the United States government, in a deal that could be finalised within weeks, the Financial Times reported on Friday, amid President Donald Trump's efforts to implement sweeping measures to minimize federal spending. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Oracle will offer federal agencies a 75% discount on its license-based software and a "substantial" discount on its cloud service through the end of November. Google's cloud contract is likely "to land in a similar spot", the Financial Times said, citing a senior official at the General Services Administration, adding that equivalent discounts from Microsoft's Azure and Amazon Web Services are expected to follow soon. "Every single of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission," the senior official told the newspaper. "We will get there with all four players." Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Google and the General Services Administration did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside regular business hours. In April, Google agreed to offer a 71% discount till September 30 to U.S. federal agencies for its business apps package that could generate up to $2 billion in cost savings if there is government-wide adoption.
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Google to discount cloud computing services for US government, FT reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The deal could be finalised within weeks. Google will heavily discount cloud computing services for the United States government, in a deal that could be finalised within weeks, the Financial Times reported on J uly 11 , amid President Donald Trump's efforts to implement sweeping measures to minimise federal spending. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Oracle will offer federal agencies a 75 per cent discount on its licence-based software and a 'substantial' discount on its cloud service through the end of November. Google's cloud contract is likely 'to land in a similar spot', the Financial Times said, citing a senior official at the General Services Administration, adding that equivalent discounts from Microsoft's Azure and Amazon Web Services are expected to follow soon. 'Every single of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission,' the senior official told the newspaper. 'We will get there with all four players.' Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Google and the General Services Administration did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside regular business hours. In April, Google agreed to offer a 71 per cent discount till September 30 to US federal agencies for its business apps package that could generate up to US$2 billion (S$2.5 billion) in cost savings if there is government-wide adoption. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July World Trump nominates 'alpha male' influencer to be ambassador to Malaysia Business CEO pay: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and who saw a drop? Business Popiah king Sam Goi makes $123.5 million offer to buy rest of PSC Singapore Youth who performed lewd act on cat ordered to undergo probation Life Singer Jacky Cheung adds 3 more encore concerts in Singapore, bringing total to 6 shows
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Google to discount cloud computing services for U.S. government: Report
Google will heavily discount cloud computing services for the United States government, in a deal that could be finalised within weeks, the Financial Times reported on Friday, amid President Donald Trump's efforts to implement sweeping measures to minimize federal spending. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Oracle will offer federal agencies a 75% discount on its license-based software and a "substantial" discount on its cloud service through the end of November. Google's cloud contract is likely "to land in a similar spot", the Financial Times said, citing a senior official at the General Services Administration, adding that equivalent discounts from Microsoft's Azure and Amazon Web Services are expected to follow soon. "Every single of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission," the senior official told the newspaper. "We will get there with all four players." Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Google and the General Services Administration did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside regular business hours. In April, Google agreed to offer a 71% discount till September 30 to U.S. federal agencies for its business apps package that could generate up to $2 billion in cost savings if there is government-wide adoption.
