Overview
Title
To establish a commission to study the relocation of certain agencies outside of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
S. 5486 wants to create a special group to think about moving some government offices to different parts of the U.S., not just around Washington, D.C. They will look at how much it costs, if there's space and internet for people to work, and then tell Congress what they find.
Summary AI
S. 5486 aims to create a commission to explore moving certain federal agencies out of the Washington, D.C. area to different parts of the United States. The bill outlines that the commission will consist of various government leaders and requires them to submit a report to Congress within one year. This report will assess potential relocation areas based on factors like cost efficiency, available infrastructure, and telework participation of agencies. The goal is to identify regions that could benefit from or support the relocation of these agencies.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act" aims to establish a commission to study the potential relocation of select federal agencies from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to other parts of the United States. This initiative is driven by considerations such as financial efficiency, existing infrastructure, related local industries, and the extent of teleworking capabilities within these agencies. The commission is tasked with providing a detailed report to Congress within a year after the bill's enactment.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several issues arise from the considerations and details presented in the bill:
Ambiguity in Definitions: The term "covered agency" is ambiguous as it refers to agencies "not security-related" without a clear definition or criteria provided by the President. This could lead to subjective or politically influenced decisions about which agencies qualify.
Timeline Concerns: The bill requires that the commission's report be submitted one year from the date of enactment. Given the complexity of assessing and planning agency relocations, this timeline may not allow for adequate analysis, which could result in hasty and ill-considered recommendations.
Complex Decision-Making Criteria: The factors for relocation outlined in the bill involve multiple variables, such as financial efficiency and infrastructure, without any guidance on how to prioritize these considerations. The complexity could hinder the commission’s ability to make effective and timely decisions.
Potential Boundary Disputes: The specified boundaries of the "Washington, D.C. metropolitan area" could lead to disputes, particularly regarding which agencies fall within these limits and are therefore eligible for relocation study.
Bureaucratic Challenges: The extensive composition of the commission, including 16 high-level officials, might lead to inefficiencies or difficulties in reaching consensus, potentially stalling the decision-making process.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The potential relocation of federal agencies could have widespread implications. For communities outside of Washington, D.C., this could mean economic growth, increased employment opportunities, and the decentralization of federal operations. Conversely, the D.C. area might face economic challenges and a reduction in federal visibility and influence. This realignment might also impact public access to federal agencies, either positively or negatively, depending on geographic proximity.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Local Governments and Economies: Regions that might gain relocated agencies could see significant economic benefits, including job creation and increased economic activity. Conversely, areas losing agencies might experience economic decline and job loss.
Federal Employees: Relocation could disrupt the lives of federal employees who may be required to move, which could lead to job dissatisfaction or employee turnover.
Businesses and Industries: Companies related to federal agency operations may benefit from new partnerships or contracts in regions receiving relocated agencies. Conversely, companies in the D.C. area could suffer from the decreased presence of federal agencies.
In summary, while the bill aims to improve efficiency and spread economic benefits across the country, it presents significant challenges and uncertainties that need to be addressed to prevent potential negative impacts on existing federal employees, local economies, and operational efficiency.
Issues
The definition of 'covered agency' as one 'not a security-related agency, as determined by the President' lacks clarity. This ambiguity gives the President substantial discretionary power without established criteria, which could lead to inconsistent or politically motivated decisions. (Section 2(a)(3))
The requirement for the Commission to submit a report 'not later than 1 year after the date of enactment' might be an insufficient timeframe considering the complexity and magnitude of studying and recommending agency relocations. This rushed timeline could lead to inadequate research and poorly informed decisions. (Section 2(d)(1))
The language detailing the factors for relocating covered agencies is complex, involving numerous variables such as financial efficiency, infrastructure, and telework capabilities, without clear prioritization or weighting. This complexity might impede effective decision-making and lead to contentious debates within the Commission. (Section 2(d)(2))
The inclusion of specific counties and cities in the definition of the 'Washington, D.C. metropolitan area' might lead to disagreements or misunderstandings about its exact boundaries, potentially affecting which agencies are considered for relocation. (Section 2(a)(5))
The extensive membership list for the Commission, which includes 16 high-level government officials, could lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies and make it challenging to reach consensus on relocation decisions. This could result in protracted deliberations or gridlock. (Section 2(c))
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act officially names the legislation as the “Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act”.
2. Agency relocation commission Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text describes the establishment of a Commission to evaluate the possibility of relocating certain federal agencies from Washington, D.C. to other areas in the U.S. The Commission will consist of various government officials and must submit a report to Congress within a year, recommending agency relocations based on factors like cost efficiency, available infrastructure, existing related industries, and telework participation.