Peace Garden News

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and Mark Kelly have taken a step to address the federal government's real estate inefficiencies by urging action under the Federal Assets and Transfers Act (FASTA) Reform Act. This initiative aims to prevent taxpayer-funded buildings from remaining unused.

The FASTA Reform Act builds upon the original FASTA legislation, enacted in 2016, which introduced a six-year pilot program managed by the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB). This program was tasked with recommending the disposal of surplus federal properties. Since its inception in 2019, the PBRB has facilitated the sale of ten buildings, generating over $193 million. Despite these efforts, as of 2022, there were still 7,697 vacant federal buildings.

Recent changes in work policies towards remote and telework have exacerbated this issue. A study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in October 2023 revealed that many federal agencies are utilizing only a fraction of their office space capacity. The study also indicated an annual waste of over $81 million due to underutilized office spaces.

Senators Cramer and Kelly addressed a letter to the PBRB, emphasizing the importance of completing disposals required under FASTA and its reform act for taxpayer benefit. They stated: “The Public Building Reform Board (PBRB) must build on this success by taking a comprehensive approach aimed at maximizing savings and reducing waste,” adding that collaboration between PBRB and OMB is essential for achieving optimal results.

“Congress and taxpayers alike recognize the urgent need to address our government’s inefficient real estate portfolio,” they further noted, expressing anticipation for tangible benefits from completing the third round of disposals.