The "Drain the Swamp Act of 2025" mandates executive agencies to relocate their headquarters outside of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area by 2030, ensuring no more than 10% of employees remain in the area.
Warren Davidson
Representative
OH-8
The "Drain the Swamp Act of 2025" aims to decentralize the federal government by requiring all executive agencies to relocate their headquarters outside of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area by September 30, 2030. Agency heads must submit relocation plans to Congress by September 30, 2026, ensuring that no more than 10% of their employees remain in the D.C. area post-relocation. The Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration must certify these plans for cost savings and compliance. This act seeks to disperse federal power and resources away from the capital.
Federal Agencies Packing Their Bags: 'Drain the Swamp Act' Mandates HQ Moves by 2030
The "Drain the Swamp Act of 2025" is doing exactly what it says on the tin: kicking most federal agency headquarters out of the Washington D.C. area by September 30, 2030. This isn't a suggestion; it's a mandate. Agency heads have until September 30, 2026, to submit their relocation plans, and those plans better show some serious cost savings. (SEC. 2)
Beyond the Beltway: Where Will They Go?
This bill repeals Section 72 of title 4 of the U.S. Code. The law used to say where agency HQs had to be. Now, they're required to move out of the D.C. metro area (defined as D.C., parts of Maryland, and parts of Virginia). The goal? To save money and ensure that, after the move, no more than 10% of any agency's workforce is based in the D.C. area. Think about that: if you work for a federal agency in D.C., there's a good chance your job is moving. (SEC. 2)
For example, imagine a data analyst at the Department of Agriculture currently working in D.C. This bill could mean she's suddenly working in, say, rural Kansas, closer to the farmers the agency serves. Or picture a contracting officer at the Department of Defense: their office could shift from the Pentagon to a smaller city near a major military base. These aren't just hypotheticals – this is the point of the bill. (SEC. 2)
The Price of the Move
The bill requires agency heads to identify a new location and "maximize potential cost savings." That's going to be the key phrase. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA) have to certify that each plan actually achieves this. While lower rent and cost of living in other parts of the country could save taxpayer money, the actual cost of moving entire agencies – and potentially losing experienced staff who don't want to relocate – is a big unknown. (SEC. 2)
Security Check
The bill does acknowledge "potential national security issues." This means agencies like the Department of Defense or Homeland Security will have to factor that into their relocation plans. It's a vague phrase, though, and it'll be interesting to see how different agencies interpret it. (SEC. 2)
The Bottom Line
The "Drain the Swamp Act of 2025" aims for a major shakeup of the federal government's footprint. While spreading federal jobs across the country and potentially cutting costs sound good, the practical challenges – from logistical hurdles to the impact on employees and the D.C. economy – are substantial. This one is going to be interesting to watch unfold.