Central ND News

The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 includes legislation from U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and Mark Kelly to address the federal government's real estate portfolio. The legislation, known as the Federal Assets and Transfers Act (FASTA) Reform Act, builds on FASTA, which was enacted in 2016.

FASTA established a six-year pilot program overseen by the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) to recommend the disposal of unused federal properties. Since its inception in 2019, the PBRB has facilitated the sale of ten buildings, generating over $193 million in revenue. Despite these efforts, there were still 7,697 vacant federal buildings as of 2022. This issue has been exacerbated by increased remote work policies within federal agencies. A Government Accountability Office study from October 2023 found that many federal agencies use only a fraction of their headquarters' capacity, resulting in an estimated $81 million wasted annually due to underutilized office space.

Senators Cramer and Kelly have urged the PBRB to complete the final round of disposals required under FASTA and the FASTA Reform Act to benefit taxpayers. They emphasized the need for collaboration between the PBRB and OMB to maximize savings and reduce waste.

"The Public Building Reform Board (PBRB) must build on this success by taking a comprehensive approach aimed at maximizing savings and reducing waste," stated Cramer and Kelly. "It is critical the PBRB and OMB collaborate to ensure this round delivers the best possible result."

They also noted that "Congress and taxpayers alike recognize the urgent need to address our government’s inefficient real estate portfolio," expressing optimism about "the completion of the third round and the tangible benefits it will bring."