April 20, 2026
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National Taxpayers Union urges all representatives to vote “YES” on H.R. 4690, “the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act,” authored by Rep. Langworthy (R-NY). This legislation represents a commonsense step toward modernizing federal building standards by repealing outdated and overly prescriptive energy efficiency mandates that restrict flexibility in the design and construction of federal facilities.
Current regulations encourage federal buildings to move away from fossil fuel usage and impose stringent federal building energy standards. Rigid, one-size-fits-all standards have increased costs, delayed project delivery, and limited agencies’ ability to tailor infrastructure decisions to mission-specific needs. This outdated approach set the foundation for federal buildings to move beyond traditional fuel sources for electricity usage even when the data said it did not make sense.
Most concerningly, the Energy Independence and Security Act requires federal buildings to phase out natural gas energy consumption by 2030. This mandate is deeply problematic. The United States is currently the world’s leading producer and exporter of natural gas, and it remains a cornerstone of the nation’s energy mix. A significant share of the electric grid relies on natural gas because it provides a dependable, scalable, and relatively affordable source of generation. Forcing its removal from the federal energy portfolio risks increasing costs, reducing flexibility, and undermining reliability—particularly in regions where viable alternatives are not yet fully developed or resilient.
Thankfully, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act repeals these harmful provisions. By doing so, it restores meaningful discretion to federal agencies and ensures that infrastructure and energy decisions are guided by practicality, cost-effectiveness, and operational reliability rather than rigid statutory mandates. This restored flexibility allows agencies to evaluate energy options based on lifecycle cost, performance, and resilience, while also adapting to regional energy markets and ongoing technological innovation.
Most importantly, the legislation would help reduce wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. By rescinding inflexible standards that drive up compliance costs and limit procurement options, the bill allows agencies to prioritize durable, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions without unnecessary regulatory burdens. This fiscal discipline helps ensure that scarce taxpayer resources are directed toward meaningful infrastructure improvements and mission-critical investments, rather than administrative compliance requirements that do little to improve outcomes on the ground.
Too often, federal policies are driven by political ideologies rather than sound data and metrics. H.R. 4690 helps break this cycle and recenters a fair and balanced energy policy agenda for federal buildings.
Roll call votes on this legislation will be included in NTU’s annual rating of Congress and “YES” votes will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU’s Vice President of Federal Affairs Thomas Aiello at Taiello@ntu.org
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