Legislation requires federal agencies to reuse surplus property, saving taxpayer dollars on goods ranging from office supplies to heavy machinery.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan bill, spearheaded by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), aimed at reducing wasteful federal spending by encouraging the reuse of excess government property, has passed both chambers of Congress and now awaits the President’s signature to become law. The legislation mandates that federal agencies prioritize reusing available surplus goods—such as office supplies, vehicles, and equipment—before purchasing new items, a move that could save significant taxpayer dollars.
The Reuse Excess Property Act, which passed the House this week following Senate approval in December 2023, seeks to hold agencies accountable for their spending practices by requiring them to publicly report on their efforts to reuse excess personal property. These goods, already owned by the federal government, are often available at no cost to the agencies apart from transportation fees.