S. 2542 would direct the Federal Protective Service (FPS), a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security that protects federal buildings, to establish guidance on emergency communication protocols for public buildings within one year of enactment. The act also would require the FPS to report and brief the Congress, within one year of enactment, on those protocols.
Using information from the General Services Administration about the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026-2031 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
On February 13, 2026, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 6481, the Federal Building Threat Notification Act, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 18, 2025. The two pieces of legislation are similar, except that S. 2542 would have the FPS conduct the required activities. CBO’s estimated budgetary effects are the same for both pieces of legislation.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
