Federal Data Center Enhancement Act of 2023

Federal Data Center Enhancement Act of 2023

This bill modifies requirements relating to federal agency data centers.

Specifically, the General Services Administration (GSA) must establish minimum requirements for new data centers, including regarding

• the availability and use of new data centers;
• the use of sustainable energy sources;
• uptime percentage;
• protections against power failures, including on-site energy generation and access to multiple transmission paths;
• protections against physical intrusions and natural disasters; and
• information security protections.

The GSA must issue guidance to ensure that covered agencies incorporate the minimum requirements into current data centers.

During the development and planning of a new data center, an agency must report to the GSA and Congress upon determining it is likely to make a management or financial decision relating to such data center.

In determining whether to establish a new data center or continue to operate an existing data center, an agency must (1) ensure that each at-risk legacy application is updated, replaced, or modernized; and (2) prioritize and leverage commercial cloud environments.

The GSA must maintain a public-facing website that includes information related to agency compliance with data center requirements.

An agency must oversee and manage the data center portfolio and the information technology strategy of the agency in accordance with federal cybersecurity guidelines and directives.

The Government Accountability Office must review, verify, and audit compliance with the minimum requirements for new and existing data centers.