Lawmakers seek to strengthen federal building security

Washington — New bipartisan legislation is intended to better protect workers and visitors in federal buildings.

Introduced Jan. 18 by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024 (S. 3613) would require federal agencies to respond – within 90 days – to the Federal Protective Service’s recommended security measures. 

“Agencies may choose to adopt or reject FPS recommendations,” a press release from Peters’ office states. “However, agencies must provide an explanation to [the Department of Homeland Security] detailing the reasons for any rejected recommendations. 

“The legislation also requires DHS to develop a method to monitor the responses to FPS security assessments and take reasonable actions to ensure agency responses, holding agencies accountable to adopting sound, defensible security decisions.”

The press release notes that FPS has made more than 25,000 security recommendations from fiscal years 2017 to 2021, but agencies have implemented only about 27% of those measures.

“As federal buildings continue to face threats, my bipartisan bill will help ensure federal agencies are following the most up-to-date security recommendations to protect both these buildings and the people in them,” Peters says in the release.

Co-sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), the bill has been referred to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, of which Peters is chair.