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This bill would push the main offices of most federal executive agencies out of the Washington, D.C. area and create a process for states to compete to host them instead. Agencies that already have headquarters in the Washington metro area could stay there, but they would not be allowed to build new headquarters space, make major renovations, renew their leases, or sign new leases unless another law clearly says they can. The bill would also require the General Services Administration to set up a competitive bidding system so agencies, or GSA itself, can seek proposals from states and local governments for where to move a headquarters. GSA would then choose a location based on things like local economic impact, whether the area has experience related to the agency’s work, and national security concerns.
- Most executive agency headquarters would be banned from being located in the Washington metropolitan area, with some agencies excluded from the bill.
- Existing headquarters in that area could stay, but they could not get new leases, renew old ones, or undergo major new construction or renovation.
- Within one year, GSA would have to create a relocation bidding process that lets any state, or a city, county, or other local government within a state, submit a proposal.
- Before choosing a new home for an agency, GSA would have to give the public a chance to comment and weigh the impact on jobs, local economies, agency needs, and national security.
- The bill says that local governments outside the Washington area in Maryland or Virginia can also apply, and GSA could use money from selling federal property to help pay relocation costs.
- No extra funding would be provided; GSA would have to carry out the bill using money it already has.
Official Summaries
Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement Act or the SWAMP Act
This bill prohibits new construction, major renovation, leasing, or renewing a lease of certain executive agency headquarters in the District of Columbia metropolitan area and establishes a competitive bidding process for the relocation of such headquarters.
The General Services Administration (GSA) must (1) establish a process to allow an executive agency to request the GSA to issue a solicitation for the relocation of its headquarters or allow the GSA to issue such a solicitation without a request, if necessary; (2) allow any state or political subdivision of a state to respond to a solicitation with a proposal for the relocation of the agency's headquarters; and (3) in consultation with the executive agency, select a state or political subdivision of a state for the relocation of the agency's headquarters using a competitive bidding procedure based on certain considerations.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 22 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 22
To establish a competitive bidding process for the relocation of the
headquarters of Executive agencies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 7, 2025
Ms. Ernst introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a competitive bidding process for the relocation of the
headquarters of Executive agencies, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for
Meaningful Placement Act'' or the ``SWAMP Act''.
SEC. 2. RELOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS OF EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency''--
(A) has the meaning given the term in section 105
of title 5, United States Code; and
(B) does not include--
(i) the Executive Office of the President;
(ii) the Department of Defense, including--
(I) the Defense Intelligence
Agency;
(II) the National Security Agency;
and
(III) the National Geospatial-
Intelligence Agency;
(iii) the Department of Energy;
(iv) the Department of Homeland Security;
(v) the Department of State;
(vi) the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence; or
(vii) the Central Intelligence Agency.
(2) Headquarters.--The term ``headquarters''--
(A) means the place or building serving as the
managerial and administrative center of an Executive
agency; and
(B) does not include an office that the head of an
Executive agency may maintain separately from a place
or building in the Washington metropolitan area.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States.
(4) Washington metropolitan area.--The term ``Washington
metropolitan area'' means the geographic area located within
the boundaries of--
(A) the District of Columbia;
(B) Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in the
State of Maryland; and
(C) Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William
Counties and the City of Alexandria in the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
(b) Prohibition on Location of Headquarters in Washington
Metropolitan Area.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the headquarters
of an Executive agency may not be located in the Washington
metropolitan area.
(2) Exception.--Subject to paragraph (3), the headquarters
of an Executive agency located in the Washington metropolitan
area on the date of enactment of this Act may remain in the
Washington metropolitan area.
(3) Condition.--With respect to the headquarters of an
Executive agency that remains in the Washington metropolitan
area under paragraph (2), after the date of enactment of this
Act and except as otherwise expressly provided by law--
(A) no new construction or major renovation may be
undertaken on the headquarters;
(B) a lease agreement for the headquarters may not
be renewed; and
(C) a new lease agreement for the headquarters may
not be entered into.
(c) Competitive Bidding Process for Relocation of Headquarters.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services
shall establish a process, in accordance with the requirements
under paragraph (2), through which--
(A) the head of an Executive agency may submit a
request for the Administrator of General Services to
issue a solicitation for the relocation of the
headquarters of the Executive agency; or
(B) if determined necessary, the Administrator of
General Services may issue a solicitation for the
relocation of the headquarters of an Executive agency.
(2) Requirements.--With respect to any solicitation issued
for the relocation of the headquarters of an Executive agency
under paragraph (1), the Administrator of General Services
shall--
(A) allow any State and any political subdivision
of a State to submit a proposal for the relocation of
the headquarters of the Executive agency;
(B) provide the public with notice and an
opportunity to comment on any proposal submitted under
subparagraph (A); and
(C) in consultation with the head of the Executive
agency, select a State, or a political subdivision of a
State, for the relocation of the headquarters using a
competitive bidding procedure that considers--
(i) the extent to which the relocation of
the headquarters would impact the economy and
workforce development of a State or political
subdivision of a State;
(ii) whether a State, or a political
subdivision of a State, has expertise in
carrying out activities substantially similar
to the mission and goals of the Executive
agency; and
(iii) the extent to which the relocation of
the headquarters to a State, or a political
subdivision of a State, would implicate
national security interests.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to prohibit a political subdivision of the State of Maryland or the
Commonwealth of Virginia that is located outside the Washington
metropolitan area from submitting a proposal under subsection
(c)(2)(A).
(e) Offset allowed.--The Administrator of General Services may use
the proceeds from the sale of any Federal building or land to offset
the cost of relocating the headquarters of an Executive agency.
(f) No Additional Funds Authorized.--The Administrator of General
Services shall carry out this Act using amounts otherwise made
available to the Administrator of General Services, and no additional
amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.
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