Disposing of Inactive Structures and Properties by Offering for Sale And Lease Act; DISPOSAL Act
Summary
H.R. 6675, the DISPOSAL Act, mandates the Administrator of General Services to dispose of specific federal buildings through sale or ground lease. The bill aims to reduce the federal deficit by selling underutilized properties. It also grants the Administrator broad discretion in relocating federal agencies and exempts the disposals from certain regulatory requirements.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely result in the sale or lease of several federal buildings, potentially generating revenue for the government. Federal agencies occupying these buildings will be relocated. The bill also streamlines the disposal process by exempting it from certain environmental and historical preservation regulations.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction of the federal deficit through the sale of assets.
- Increased efficiency in the use of federal properties.
- Flexibility for the Administrator of General Services to manage federal real estate.
- Stimulation of local economies through private sector redevelopment of the properties.
- Potential for modernization of facilities through relocation of federal agencies.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential disruption to federal agencies being relocated.
- Possible loss of historic buildings due to exemptions from preservation requirements.
- Concerns about transparency due to limited judicial review.
- Risk of prioritizing short-term financial gains over long-term public interests.
- Potential for reduced services if agencies are relocated to less accessible areas.
Constitutional Alignment
The DISPOSAL Act appears to align with Congress's power to dispose of property belonging to the United States, as outlined in Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the Constitution. The Act's provisions for the sale or lease of federal buildings and the management of proceeds fall within this constitutional authority. However, the preclusion of judicial review may raise concerns regarding due process, potentially conflicting with the Fifth Amendment.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).