GSA No. 2 talks ‘million hours challenge,’ scaling agency AI efforts

GSA Deputy Administrator Michael Lynch (R) speaks with Government Executive Editor-in-Chief Frank Konkel April 14 at the OpenText Government Summit in Washington, D.C. Courtesy: GSA

The General Services Administration is working to save and automate one million hours of workload across the agency as part of its Eliminate, Optimize and Automate — or EOA — playbook.

GSA Deputy Administrator Michael Lynch said the effort aims to use artificial intelligence and intelligent automation to handle “repetitive, manual workflows,” allowing its workforce to redirect their time toward serving customer agencies, improving procurement outcomes and pursuing other mission-critical services. Early into 2026, Lynch said the agency is almost halfway toward achieving its moonshot goal.

“We have about 400,000 hours that are currently identified of ways that we can — not replace people — but remove that non-high-value added time and replace it by putting people on more high-value opportunities within the agency,” Lynch said April ...