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119-s-22119th Congress

SWAMP Act

Sponsored By: Senator Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Introduced

Summary

Move federal agency headquarters out of the Washington, D.C. area. This bill would bar new construction, major renovations, and lease renewals for covered executive agency headquarters in the DC metropolitan area and create a competitive, transparent process for states and localities to bid to host relocated headquarters.

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  • Workers: Employees at affected headquarters could face relocation or changed workplace arrangements as agencies move under the new bidding process.
  • States and localities: Any State or political subdivision may submit a proposal to host an agency. Selections must weigh economic impact, local expertise, and national security considerations.
  • Covered agencies: Agencies headquartered in the DC metro area on enactment may remain but cannot pursue new construction, major renovations, or lease renewals for those headquarters.
  • Scope and exclusions: The bill excludes the Executive Office of the President and certain national security and major departments, including Defense (and select Defense intelligence components), Energy, Homeland Security, State, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the CIA.
  • Administration and funding: The General Services Administration must run solicitations, provide public notice and comment, and consult with agency heads. The GSA may offset relocation costs with proceeds from federal property sales and must carry out the law using amounts already available; no new appropriations are authorized.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Move federal agency headquarters out of DC

This bill would ban Executive agency headquarters from the Washington metropolitan area. It would exclude several large agencies, including Defense, DHS, State, Energy, the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and the Executive Office of the President. Agencies already headquartered in the defined DC area on enactment could remain, but could not do new construction or major renovations. Those grandfathered sites could not renew leases or sign new leases after enactment. Within one year, GSA would set up a competitive relocation bidding process. Any State or local government could submit proposals and comment. GSA and the agency head would pick winners by weighing local economic and workforce impacts, relevant expertise, and national security. GSA could use proceeds from selling Federal buildings or land to offset relocation costs. No new appropriations would be authorized; GSA must use funds already available.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

IA • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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