Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 202
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-14T15:12:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act," aims to create a temporary commission to examine the potential relocation of certain non-security federal agencies from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to other parts of the United States. The goal is to assess how such moves could improve efficiency, reduce costs, and distribute federal operations more broadly across the country.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- "Agency" refers to any federal executive department or independent agency as defined in U.S. law.
- "Covered agency" includes agencies that are not related to national security, as decided by the President.
- "Washington, D.C. metropolitan area" covers the District of Columbia, specific counties in Maryland and Virginia.
- "Telework" means remote work arrangements for federal employees, as defined in federal law.
- Establishment of the Commission: A new body, called the Agency Relocation Commission, is created to study relocating covered agencies outside the D.C. area.
- Membership: The commission consists of 16 high-level federal officials, including:
- Directors from the White House Presidential Personnel Office, Office of Personnel Management, and Office of Management and Budget.
- Comptroller General of the United States.
- Secretaries from departments like Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs.
- Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
- Report Requirements: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the commission must submit a report to Congress. The report will recommend relocations based on factors such as:
- Financial efficiency (e.g., areas with below-average cost of living).
- Availability of infrastructure and land.
- Presence of related industries that could partner with the agency.
- Recent history of telework among the agency's workforce (over the past five years).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces entirely new mechanisms, as there is no prior federal law mandating a commission specifically for studying agency relocations outside the D.C. area. It builds on existing definitions from U.S. Code (e.g., for agencies and telework) but creates a novel, time-limited commission without altering broader relocation authorities or federal operations laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could lead to recommendations for moving offices, potentially lowering operational costs in high-expense areas like D.C. but disrupting workflows, requiring new infrastructure, and affecting employee retention if relocations are implemented.
- On Citizens: May boost local economies in rural or lower-cost areas through job creation and federal spending; D.C.-area residents and businesses could face economic downturns from lost federal presence. Federal employees might experience career changes due to relocation options or telework expansions.
- On International Relations: Minimal to none, as the bill focuses on domestic agency placements and excludes security-related agencies that handle foreign affairs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies and Employees: Covered agencies (e.g., Education, Labor) and their staff, who may face relocation studies or moves.
- Congress and Executive Branch Officials: Commission members from various departments must participate and report findings.
- Local Governments and Communities: Areas outside D.C. (especially those with suitable infrastructure or industries) could gain economically; D.C. metro region might lose jobs and revenue.
- Taxpayers: Potential cost savings from efficiency gains, balanced against short-term relocation expenses.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill is straightforward and aligns with Congress's authority under Article I of the Constitution to oversee federal operations and create advisory commissions. It imposes no binding relocations—only recommendations—avoiding conflicts with existing agency statutes.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues, as it respects separation of powers by involving executive officials while requiring congressional reporting; it does not infringe on states' rights but could influence federalism by decentralizing government.
- Political: May spark debates on reducing D.C.'s influence as the federal hub, promoting regional equity, or politicizing agency placements (e.g., via presidential determinations on "security-related" exclusions). As an introduced bill, its passage could signal shifts in administrative priorities toward cost-cutting and geographic diversification.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (4 pages)