State Department deputy Michael Rigas tapped as acting GSA head
The agency’s new acting administrator, Michael Rigas, sent an email to staff Monday morning notifying them that he had taken over as acting head of GSA and that Ehikian will stay on as the agency’s deputy director.
Rigas is coming to the agency from the State Department, where he led reorganization efforts as its Senate-confirmed deputy secretary for management and resources. As part of that reorganization, State laid off 1,350 employees. It’s unclear if Rigas will hold both positions simultaneously moving forward. The White House and State Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
GSA may not be the most well-known agency, but it has been key to Trump 2.0’s agenda, given its central role in government procurement and technology, and as the manager of government real estate.
It’s also been a focus for the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency. Billionaire Elon Musk, who has since backed away from the effort amid a schism with Trump, visited GSA just days into the new administration in January and had several longtime associates installed in the agency.
Still, GSA hasn’t been spared from the workforce slashing efforts of the administration. Thousands have left voluntarily and others working on GSA tech, building and finance teams have been laid off.
Within the agency, some are speculating that the move is part of the fallout over the Department of Government Efficiency, two employees told Nextgov/FCW.
Last week, POLITICO reported that Steve Davis, the operational head of DOGE, stuck around even after the White House announced his departure.
Ehikian is labeled in that reporting as an ally of Davis tasked with assessing the loyalty of DOGE staffers — something a senior Trump administration official denied — after some questioned Davis’ continued involvement as a non-government employee. Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum is also listed as one of three Davis allies that the longtime Musk associate “installed… as the new leaders of DOGE.”
Still, many DOGE associates were included in an all-hands political appointee meeting held at GSA this morning and scheduled to repeat on a biweekly cadence, according to screenshots viewed by Nextgov/FCW.
DOGE staffers on the invite include Alexander Simonpour, Nate Cavanaugh, Marshall Wood, Luke Farritor, Justin Fox, Jeremy Lewin, Frank Schuler, Ethan Shaotran and David Malcher.
GSA’s associate administrator, Marianne Copenhaver, told Nextgov/FCW in a statement that “under Mike’s leadership, GSA will continue to deliver effective and efficient government services in real estate, acquisition, and technology.”
During the first Trump administration, Rigas was the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, acting deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and acting federal chief information officer. He also worked as a senior advisor at GSA.
“This will be his 3rd appointment at GSA,” Copenhaver said. “We’re thrilled to have his institutional knowledge, leadership, and decades of experience in the private and public sector.”
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