Sponsors
The bill seeks to cut federal real-estate waste and strengthen property oversight—potentially saving taxpayers and improving government accountability—but does so by enforcing in-person work and accelerating disposals in ways that could disrupt employees, services, local economies, and impose short-term costs.
Taxpayers could pay less over time because agencies will dispose of underused federal buildings and reduce ongoing maintenance and leasing costs.
Federal property management and oversight will be clearer and more accountable because the bill standardizes definitions, gives GSA enforcement authority, and requires GAO reporting and agency certifications.
Federal employees (and the public) may face lower health risks if agencies address underutilized buildings with Legionella contamination through disposal or remediation.
Most federal employees will have reduced telework flexibility (five days a week expected), harming recruitment/retention and disproportionately affecting parents, people with disabilities, and others who rely on telework.
Disposing properties or terminating leases could displace federal workers and disrupt agency operations and program delivery during relocations or forced staffing shifts.
Taxpayers may face significant upfront or transitional costs (decontamination, removal, consolidation, relocation) and could recover less value if agencies have to sell property at unfavorable times.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 15, 2025 by John Neely Kennedy · Last progress January 15, 2025
Requires federal agencies to change policies so most employees work in person and offices meet minimum occupancy levels, and forces sale or lease termination for underused federal property that does not meet deadlines. Agencies must require at least 80% of employees to work onsite Monday–Friday (excluding legal public holidays) and occupy at least 60% of usable office square footage, with certifications by OPM and the GSA Administrator and reporting by the Comptroller General. Noncompliant properties must be sold or leases terminated or not renewed.