Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Co., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., have offered an amendment to the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, S-1392, that would set hard deadlines for agencies to meet goals under a White House data center consolidation plan.
The federal government is on place to go from 3,000 to less than 2,000 data centers by 2015 and save about $3 billion. The amendment would also require inventory and consolidation plans, in response to what the Sens. have said is a slow response from some agencies so far.
If enacted, the law would also require an inspector general review at each agency to ensure that the data center inventory is thorough, direct OMB to update Congress on cost savings realized to date, and ensure that GAO continue its annual reviews. Bennet and Coburn said they have worked with OMB and GAO on the amendment to ensure that this legislation will help strengthen the initiative and achieve meaningful savings.
