In a significant shake-up at the General Services Administration (GSA), Stephen Ehikian, a key figure since the Trump administration, has announced his departure from his role as deputy administrator. His decision comes as a pivotal moment for the agency, which has seen rapid changes over the years.

Ehikian, who previously acted as GSA's leader, shared the news with staff via an email, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve. He stated, "It has been an honor and privilege to serve as deputy administrator. As I transition out of that role, I wanted to highlight some successes." Despite stepping down, he will continue to advise the leadership team during this transition.

Transitioning to New Horizons: C3 AI Awaits!

In a surprising twist, Ehikian is set to take on the role of CEO at C3 AI, a prominent tech company specializing in artificial intelligence. "I am honored to join C3 AI at such a pivotal time in the AI era," he said, hinting at exciting developments ahead.

Ehikian's tenure at GSA was marked by dramatic efforts to streamline operations. Early in the administration, GSA became the nucleus for the Trump administration’s directives aimed at enhancing government efficiency, with various officials camped at its headquarters.

Impactful Leadership: What Did Ehikian Achieve?

Under Ehikian's leadership, GSA made notable strides despite facing challenges. His administration oversaw the significant reduction of the agency's workforce, the closure of its tech shop 18F, and aggressive streamlining of federal real estate. He pointed out that current occupancy in federal buildings is around 33%, well below acceptable standards.

As agencies are required to cut office space under the USE IT Act—signed into law by President Biden—Ehikian emphasized the need to reassess taxpayer dollars spent on empty buildings.

Accelerating Change: New Initiatives and Partnerships

With a focus on consolidating services, GSA under Ehikian secured lucrative, cost-saving contracts with major firms like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. The agency also revolutionized the approval process for cloud service providers, cutting down authorization times from over a year to mere weeks.

In March, GSA launched the FedRAMP 20x initiative, which has already achieved record authorizations this fiscal year, exceeding the previous year's output.

As he moves on to his new venture, the legacy and changes implemented by Ehikian at GSA will likely resonate for years to come, paving the way for continued evolution in federal management.