Proposed bill would study relocation for some agencies

Three Northeast Ohio U.S. representatives are sponsoring a bill that would study the relocation of some federal agencies outside of the Washington, D.C., area.

Reps. Tim Ryan, Howland Township; Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge Township; and Anthony Gonzalez, R-Rocky River; introduced what they called the “Federal Government Decentralization Commission Act.”

The lawmakers say their bill would create a bipartisan committee within the General Services Administration, commonly referred to as GSA, that would study the relocation of executive agencies — or divisions of

executive agencies — outside the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

GSA would be required to submit a plan to Congress for the relocation of recommended agencies or divisions and prioritize relocations to low-income communities or areas with “expertise in the mission and goal of an executive agency or division.”

“Our government belongs to all Americans, and communities across the United States should be able to benefit from the economic boost these employment centers could bring, especially to economically distressed places,” Ryan said in a statement. “As we have all learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology available to us today allows for seamless communication and collaboration regardless of geographic location, and is already allowing a web of federal offices and agencies across the US, such as the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta to perform their work without being inside the DC beltway.”

Ryan added that it’s a “common sense” way to help communities like those in Ohio share “economic development that comes from playing host to part of the federal government.”

Joyce said in a statement he “firmly believe(s) some parts of the federal government would better serve the American people if they were outside of Washington and away from partisan politics.”

“By initiating this study, we will not only help improve the federal government’s efficiency and effectiveness but can also bring jobs and economic productivity all across America,” Joyce said. “Many federal jobs can be performed outside of our nation’s capital and by relocating them, they can be better connected to the communities they are designed to serve.”

According to the Office of Personnel Management, currently about 283,000 of the nation’s more than 2.7 million federal employees are based in the D.C. metro area. A news release from Ryan’s office stated that there are many positions and functions that cannot be performed other than in D.C., “there are many that could easily be performed outside the nation’s capital.”

Gonzalez said in a statement that “far too many big decisions impacting the lives of Ohioans are made in Washington away from the people.”

“This bill would help pave the way for moving federal agencies outside of DC, creating economic growth and bringing new perspectives to federal policy making,” Gonzalez said.

Joyce said in a statement he “firmly believe(s) some parts of the federal government would better serve the American people if they were outside of Washington and away from partisan politics.”