Press Releases

Most Exhaustive Database of Federal Real Property Ever Compiled Now Available for Public Review

Publication of Database a Victory for Government Transparency and Accountability

Washington, D.C., December 18, 2017 | Justin Harclerode (202) 225-9446
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Washington – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders today called the General Services Agency’s (GSA’s) public release of its Real Property Profile a victory for government transparency and accountability.  The database is the most exhaustive listing ever published of federal real property assets, allowing the American people and the Congress to view information on more than 300,000 government-owned and leased properties for the first time. 

The publication of this database was required by the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (FASTA) of 2016, (P.L. 114-287), bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), and cosponsored by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Lou Barletta (R-PA) and other Members of the House.

“Billions of dollars are wasted on unused and unneeded federal property, and this is a major portion of our effort to reduce the federal footprint,” Denham said.  “The government hid this information for years, and now the public can see just how much our reforms are needed to save taxpayer dollars.”

“The American people deserve to know what properties their government owns, and transparency is required for making sure those properties are managed in the best interest of the taxpayer,” said Shuster.  “The publication of this database is a win for anyone interested in transparency, accountability, and truth in government, and will provide Congress with an important tool in its oversight of the management of federal properties.”

“Transparency and oversight are indispensable for the responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” said Barletta.  “Let’s get wasted space and unnecessary assets off the federal books and save money for American families.  I am proud of the work the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee undertook to make this database a reality and hold government spending accountable.”

The Federal Real Property Profile can be found here.

 

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