Lawmakers Scrutinize Federal Judiciary’s Courthouse Space Needs

House members from both parties questioned the judiciary’s courthouse design requirements and request for hundreds of millions to fund construction projects, even as a federal judge insisted that empty courtrooms don’t necessarily indicate wasted space.

The Tuesday hearing held by a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee panel focused on a government watchdog report from November that found the judiciary’s recently revised design standards for courthouses could make those buildings almost 6% larger and raise construction costs by around 12%.

This is “at least questionable, if not unacceptable,” said Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), who chairs the subcommittee on economic development.

He ...