Years of deferred maintenance and bureaucratic delays reportedly have left federal employees working in deteriorating buildings with leaking roofs, mold, pests, and aging infrastructure, highlighting what critics say is another example of government mismanagement.

A New York Times investigation found the federal government faces an estimated $50 billion maintenance backlog across roughly 1,475 General Services Administration-owned properties, with repair costs projected to exceed the value of the government’s real estate portfolio within several years.

The report said conditions worsened after President Donald Trump ordered federal workers back to the office last year, requiring more employees to return to buildings where maintenance problems had accumulated for decades.

The backlog stems in part from a cumbersome congressional approval process.

Under current law, Congress must approve General Services Administration projects costing more than $3.96 million, a process that averages more than 435 days.

Agency officials argue the delays allow repair costs to escalate while safety hazards worsen.

Among the problems cited in the report:

Persistent roof leaks at an IRS facility in Atlanta.

Mold contamination at Veterans Affairs offices in Hilo, Hawaii.

Aging elevators that have trapped people dozens of times at Boston’s John F. Kennedy Federal Building.

Outdated plumbing, ventilation, and electrical systems at numerous federal facilities nationwide.

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