COST of Relocations Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1171
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:52:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Congressional Oversight to Secure Transparency of Relocations Act" (COST of Relocations Act) aims to increase transparency and accountability in federal government relocations by requiring agencies to perform detailed benefit-cost analyses before moving significant numbers of employee positions to new locations. This ensures that such moves are justified, well-planned, and reviewed by oversight bodies like Inspectors General (OIGs) and Congress.
Key Provisions
- Requirement for Benefit-Cost Analysis: Federal agencies must conduct a benefit-cost analysis for any "covered relocation" (defined below) before submitting proposals to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) or other reviewers. The analysis follows guidelines from OMB Circular A-4 (a standard framework for evaluating federal actions using economic and social principles, effective as of September 17, 2003).
- Agency Report to OIG: Agencies submit an unredacted report to their OIG, including:
- Quantified anticipated benefits (e.g., cost savings or efficiency gains).
- Explanations of how the relocation achieves these benefits.
- Metrics for measuring success.
- An employee engagement plan.
- A list of stakeholders (e.g., affected communities or partners) and timelines for consultations.
- Assessments of impacts on stakeholders and the agency's mission.
- A comprehensive relocation strategy covering staffing, timelines, risks, mitigation, and succession planning.
- Agencies must publicly release a redacted version of this report (excluding proprietary or confidential information).
- OIG Review and Report to Congress: Within 90 days, the OIG reviews the agency's analysis and submits a report to four congressional committees (Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Senate Environment and Public Works; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Transportation and Infrastructure). The OIG report includes:
- Details on data used (types and time periods).
- Conclusions from the analysis.
- Evaluation of adherence to OMB guidelines and whether federal funds are justified.
- If the move is from the National Capital Region (the Washington, D.C. area, including nearby parts of Maryland and Virginia) to elsewhere, a comparison of real estate costs in both areas.
- Exceptions and Definitions:
- The law does not replace other legal requirements for relocations.
- Covered relocation: Applies to moves or redelegations (reassigning functions to new positions) affecting more than the lesser of 5% or 100 employees outside their commuting area, or transferring jurisdiction to another agency. This includes combinations of related actions.
- Other terms: "Employee" means federal workers or officers; "Federal agency" refers to executive branch entities under U.S. Code.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a mandatory pre-relocation benefit-cost analysis and multi-step reporting process (agency to OIG to Congress), which was not previously required for most federal relocations.
- Builds on but does not alter existing OMB guidelines or other laws, adding layers of independent review (via OIG) and public disclosure to prevent unexamined moves.
- Sets specific thresholds (5% or 100 employees) to target large-scale relocations, focusing oversight on impactful changes rather than minor adjustments.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could delay relocations due to added analysis and review steps, increasing administrative costs but promoting better planning and reducing risks like mission disruptions or employee turnover. Agencies may need to invest more in data collection and stakeholder engagement.
- On Citizens: Enhances public access to information on relocations, potentially affecting local economies (e.g., job losses in origin areas or gains in destination regions). Employees may benefit from structured engagement plans, reducing uncertainty during moves.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic federal operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies and Employees: Directly responsible for conducting analyses and facing potential disruptions; employees in relocated positions may experience changes in location, commuting, or job security.
- Offices of Inspector General (OIGs): Gain new review responsibilities, increasing their oversight role.
- Congressional Committees: Receive reports for legislative scrutiny, enabling better monitoring of executive actions.
- Regional Communities and Stakeholders: Affected areas (e.g., National Capital Region or relocation destinations) may see economic shifts; includes local governments, businesses, and residents consulted in planning.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Proposals now require prior analysis, influencing budget approvals.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance with federal budgeting laws by mandating economic justifications, potentially reducing wasteful spending. It preserves existing requirements (e.g., environmental reviews under other statutes), avoiding conflicts.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (Article I) by enhancing oversight of executive spending without infringing on agency operations. No apparent separation-of-powers issues, as it targets appropriations indirectly through analysis.
- Political: Could curb politically driven relocations (e.g., moving jobs to favor certain regions) by requiring transparent, data-based decisions. May lead to debates over federal decentralization versus centralization in Washington, D.C., but promotes bipartisan accountability through committee involvement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Congressional Oversight to Secure Transparency of Relocations Act — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (8 pages)