The commercial real estate sector came into the year bracing for drastic cuts to the footprint of the largest occupier of U.S. office space: the federal government.

President Donald Trump in his first days in office took big, unconventional steps to swiftly reduce the government’s massive, nationwide office portfolio. These dizzying actions grabbed headlines for weeks and threw the industry into panic.

In the months after, those initial moves were mostly walked back.

What followed was a period of much slower decision-making as the Department of Government Efficiency fizzled and federal real estate leaders departed. As the year progressed, uncertainty about agency office needs and the shake-up of government real estate officials meant progress to shrink leases and offload owned buildings has been slow.

“It was a chaotic year,” said Transwestern Managing Director Lucy Kitchin, who represents owners of government-leased real estate.