Securities and Exchange Commission Real Estate Leasing Authority Revocation Act
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Would strip the Securities and Exchange Commission of its independent authority to lease general-purpose office space, transferring that function to the General Services Administration, and would direct the Government Accountability Office to update a 2016 review of all federal agencies with similar independent leasing powers.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend title 40 of the United States Code to prohibit the SEC from directly leasing general-purpose office space on or after the date of enactment. Instead, the General Services Administration would handle such leasing on the SEC's behalf under existing GSA leasing authority. Leases the SEC entered into before enactment would not be invalidated or otherwise affected.
The bill would also direct the Comptroller General to update a 2016 GAO report (GAO-16-648) on federal entities with independent leasing authority, focusing on which agencies still hold such authority, how much space they lease, how often they use GSA instead, and what progress has been made on the 2016 report's recommendations. The Comptroller General would then submit that updated report to three congressional committees.
Key provisions
- 1Would prohibit the SEC from leasing general-purpose office space on or after enactment, transferring that authority to the GSA Administrator.
- 2Would grandfather all leases the SEC entered into before enactment, leaving those agreements unaffected.
- 3Would require the Comptroller General to update the 2016 GAO report on federal independent leasing authorities and report to three congressional committees.
Who would be affected
The SEC, which would lose its independent real-estate leasing authority for future office space. The GSA, which would take on responsibility for leasing office space on the SEC's behalf. Other federal agencies with independent leasing authority would be scrutinized in the GAO review but would not have their authorities changed by the bill itself.
Why it matters
If enacted, the SEC would no longer be able to negotiate its own office leases, potentially reducing flexibility but channeling its leasing through GSA's centralized procurement process. The broader GAO review could lay groundwork for Congress to target similar independent leasing authorities at other agencies, making this a potential first step in a wider consolidation effort.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends 40 U.S.C. § 3304 (Sec. 2(a))
Adds a new subsection prohibiting the SEC from leasing general-purpose office space and authorizing the GSA Administrator to lease such space for the SEC instead.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- SEC leasing prohibition takes effect
How implementation would work
The SEC's leasing prohibition would take effect upon enactment; future office-space needs would be handled by the GSA Administrator under existing statutory authority in title 40. The Comptroller General would separately conduct a structured review updating the 2016 GAO-16-648 report, examining current authority holders, rescissions, space amounts, and GSA utilization rates, then submit findings to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and two Senate committees. The bill sets no deadline for the GAO report.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Official CRS summary
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This bill revokes the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to lease general purpose office space and instead provides for the General Services Administration to lease such space for the SEC. The bill's provisions do not affect those leases entered into by the SEC before this bill's enactment.
The Government Accountability Office must (1) complete a review under which it shall update a 2016 report with respect to independent leasing authorities, and (2) report to Congress on the review.
Legislative subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures; Government Operations and Politics; Government buildings, facilities, and property; Lease and rental services; Public contracts and procurement; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)