Darrell Crate, president and CEO of Easterly Government Properties (NYSE: DEA), sat down for a video interview at Nareit’s REITweek: 2026 Investor Conference in New York, June 1-4.
Easterly Government Properties is benefiting from steady earnings growth while positioning itself for long-term expansion as the federal government increasingly turns to leased facilities, according to Crate.
The REIT has delivered eight consecutive quarters of earnings growth, generating annual growth of roughly 2% to 3% while deploying capital into accretive investments. Crate said Easterly's development pipeline remains active, particularly in specialized government facilities such as courthouses and FDA laboratories. The company is currently developing federal courthouses in Medford, Oregon, and Flagstaff, Arizona, while also expanding its work with state governments through law enforcement facilities in Florida.
Crate emphasized the durability of these assets, noting that federal courthouses are among the government's most essential facilities.
"The U.S. government has not left a courthouse. They probably left two of them since the Civil War," he said, underscoring the long-term stability of the company's portfolio.
Looking ahead, Crate believes one of Easterly's biggest opportunities lies in the federal government's evolving real estate strategy. He pointed to growing recognition that leasing offers taxpayers a more efficient approach than government ownership.