The FBI now plans to stay in Washington, DC — a move that undercuts years of bipartisan work and disregards the federal government’s established selection process.
Federal officials announced this week that the agency will remain in Washington, DC, abandoning the previously approved plan to relocate the FBI to Greenbelt in Prince George’s County.
The decision strips Maryland of a once-in-a-generation opportunity for economic growth, regional investment, and federal equity.
After decades of planning and bipartisan support, the federal government has walked away from its commitment to bring thousands of jobs and major infrastructure to a majority-Black community just outside the nation’s capital.
From Victory to Betrayal
In November 2023, the General Services Administration selected the Prince George’s County site, citing its low taxpayer cost, direct access to Metro, and alignment with the FBI’s mission.
At the time, a GSA spokesperson said in a statement, “GSA determined Greenbelt to be the best site because it was the lowest cost to taxpayers, provided the greatest transportation access to FBI employees and visitors, and gave the government the most certainty on project delivery schedule.”
Plans called for a state-of-the-art campus to house 11,000 employees on 62 acres of federally owned land adjacent to the Greenbelt Metro Station. However, earlier this year, the President signaled plans to upend the deal, calling for the FBI to remain near the Department of Justice and rejecting the GSA’s findings.
This week, the GSA and FBI confirmed their plan to relocate the FBI from the crumbling Hoover Building, just a few blocks away, to the Ronald Reagan Building. Officials now argue this option is more “cost-effective,” despite years of analysis pointing to Prince George’s County as the better choice.
Billions Lost, Commitments Broken
Relocating the FBI to Prince George’s County would generate an estimated 7,500 direct jobs, billions in economic activity, and serve as an anchor for future transit-oriented development. It is also an opportunity to fulfill long-standing federal equity goals by investing meaningfully in a historically underrepresented area.
Instead, federal officials now claim they can save money by avoiding new construction, even though they had previously determined that the Prince George’s site offered the best value for the money.
Maryland Pushes Back
Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation, joined by Governor Moore and Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy, issued a joint statement condemning the administration’s effort to redirect funds away from the Prince George’s site.
They argue that moving the FBI downtown jeopardizes national security, disregards Congress’s appropriated funding, and ignores years of data-backed planning. “Now the administration is attempting to redirect those funds — both undermining Congressional intent and dealing a blow to the men and women of the FBI,” the statement said.
Team Maryland pledged to fight the reversal “with every tool we have.” And until that effort is truly exhausted, the future of the FBI headquarters — and the promises made to Maryland — remains unfinished business.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
