Federal Real Property Disposition

Federal executive branch agencies hold an extensive real property portfolio that includes nearly 900,000 buildings and structures, and 41 million acres of land world-wide. These assets have been acquired over a period of decades to help agencies fulfil their diverse missions. The government’s portfolio encompasses properties with a range of uses, including barracks, health clinics, warehouses, laboratories, national parks, boat docks and offices. As agencies’ missions change over time, so do their real property needs, thereby rendering some assets less useful or unneeded altogether. This book begins with an explanation of the real property disposal process and then discusses some of the factors that have made disposition inefficient and costly. Discussed also are real property legislation introduced in the 111th Congress that would address these problems and policy options for enhancing both the disposal process and congressional oversight.