for $31,000 they should be replacing walls and carpets too. It's way too much for a table and chairs.

but if it removed who would remember the crappy decor that the 70's brought.

It's the stuff you see at virtually any federal building

Here's a link to the General Services Administration (GSA) page that lists approved vendors of furniture for federal agencies. Click on the links. You'll see a wide variety of companies, including many with familiar names (eg. Ethan Allan).

https://www.gsa.gov/acquisition/products-services/office-management/furniture

killers at our Gitchie Manitou State Preserve. It was weird that their prison factory information sheet looked very much like our own including service awards. It is a question what individuals serving long prison sentences do with their time. I don't like the perverse incentive of coerced labor or how it has the potential to displace free market labor, but a suitable system might allow an incentive to work while at the same time establish a vehicle for restitution. It also has a rehabilitation effect.

Still don’t understand how it costs $31,000. For that amount of money the hardware should be solid gold.

Not sure, it is a poorly written article.

seems pretty clear to me. That is what is being replaced.

Carson is obviously decorating challenged

IMO, the wooden paneling is worse than the current dining set. Honestly it looks like the room has seldom been used. Waste of money to update it, and the initial $5000 allowance seems doable.

Looks like a conference room (chairs around a big table that probably sees far more use) is in the adjoining room. That could probably stand for an upgrade in technology for presentations, etc.

You could probably replace the whole set for around $1000.

Probably someone replacing the set because it looks outdated.

A table such as that, like a billiards table, needs to be level.
All those supporting feet must carry an equal load.
Laser levels and weight measuring piezos, with the attendant reading software, don't come cheap.

Just imagine some upper crust visitors latte looking oval in it's cup.

Or all the catered food sliding over to one side of the plate!

Horrors.

Do they plan to go to work to have holiday dinners?

There's nothing wrong with that dining room set.

I had the same one back in 1973 and tossed it out after about 5 years.. including the hutch base. Since I was an E-1 at that time, I'm sure I didn't spend a bunch of money on it.

the living room.

The paneling is OK in the family room, but I really wish I had removed the one wall of paneling in the living room while I was repainting the home interior when I bought the house about 20 years ago... I didn't because I was worried I'd have to do a lot of plaster work and/or remove the fireplace mantel. As it was I was refinishing the floors too and there was a limit.

Why does anyone even need a dining set for their office?

What's next, a four-poster bed? That actually would be more appropriate for Ben Carson.

n/t

Just hit me...

The furniture is the least thing in that room in need of replacement.