SWAMP Act
Government Operations and Politics
7 pages
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Introduced on January 7, 2025 by Joni Ernst
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Introduced on January 7, 2025 by Joni Ernst
This bill would push federal agency headquarters out of the Washington, DC metro area and into other parts of the country. Agencies already in the DC area could stay for now, but they could not build new buildings, do major renovations, renew leases, or sign new leases there after the bill becomes law . The General Services Administration (GSA) must set up a public, competitive process to pick new locations, allowing any state or local government to apply. Choices would weigh job and economic impact, how well the area fits the agency’s mission, and any national security concerns . The GSA could use money from selling federal buildings or land to help pay for moves, and no new funding is authorized for this effort . In short, it’s a plan to relocate agency headquarters nationwide through open bidding, sometimes called the “SWAMP Act” in summaries .
| Key point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Who is affected | Executive branch agencies with headquarters in the Washington, DC metropolitan area; states and cities nationwide that may bid to host them . |
| What changes | New headquarters can’t be in the DC metro area; existing HQs there can’t get new construction, major renovations, or lease renewals. GSA runs a competitive process to choose new sites, with public input and clear criteria . |
| When | Within 1 year of the law taking effect, GSA must set up the relocation process. Limits on construction and leases apply after enactment. Sales of federal property can help fund moves; no extra money is authorized . |