B-276550: Dec 15, 1997

While you have asked for our views on this issue. We note that our statutory role in this area was limited in 1996. GSA declared that the Custom House was surplus property. The officers and agents of the government have no authority to waive contractual rights which have accrued to the United States or to modify existing contracts to the detriment of the United States without adequate legal consid...

B-276550: Published: Dec 15, 1997. Publicly Released: Dec 15, 1997.

GAO commented on the General Services Administration's (GSA) authority to compromise debt arising from the disposal of surplus property under section 204(g) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. GAO held that: (1) section 204(g) does not provide GSA with compromise authority; (2) GSA may not revise the terms of its credit offerings in such a way that would result in a re...