How the SWAMP Act Can Impact Your Salary

The Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies from Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act grabbed headlines after the House introduced legislation that would require federal institutions to change their headquarters to areas outside of Washington, D.C. upon the proposed construction of new facilities. Submitted by Congressman Luke Messer (R-IN), the SWAMP Act aims to establish fair bidding procedures for municipalities and states to contest for the transfer of a federal institution’s headquarters.

According to the new legislation, federal agencies would be banned from commencing any new construction or undertaking renovations on existing premises within Washington, D.C. As the proponent of the bill, Messer also advocates for serious consideration on any impact that the impending relocation would have on the workforce and local economy. The SWAMP Act also takes into account whether the proposed venue is efficiently equipped to carry out the functions and mission of the federal agency, while factoring in national security interests.

The SWAMP Act asserts that Americans prefer and need a government that serves their immediate interests, as opposed to being centralized in Washington D.C.

Messer’s bill is just the tip of an iceberg to intensifying suggestions for the relocation of state agencies out of the district. Before the SWAMP Act, former Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) argued that public perception regarding the impact of regulations would be positive once agencies would relocate to other regions, where the scope of their work impacts their population.

Wealth distribution, as cited by politicians, paints a stark picture of the prosperity of counties surrounding Washington, D.C. According to FedsDataCenter.com, half of the ten wealthiest counties in the U.S are situated around the Washington, D.C area, correlated with the significant influence of the federal government. A recent study estimates that 52 percent of jobs, more than 1.7 million of them, in the Washington metro area are tied to the federal government. Moving federal agencies could impact employees, creating either a loss of work, or a need for them and their families to relocate elsewhere.

*Underwritten by New York Life Insurance Company on Policy Form GMR