The federal government is reportedly no longer searching for a new FBI headquarters
After a decade of trying to find a new location for FBI headquarters, the General Services Administration is ending its expensive search, GSA officials told The Washington Post Monday.
The GSA, which manages federal real estate, had wanted to trade the outdated J. Edgar Hoover Building to a developer and use close to $2 billion in taxpayer funds to take care of the rest of the cost. They were unable to convince Congress to fully support the plan, and on Tuesday morning, GSA officials will call bidders and attend meetings on Capitol Hill to let people know the search is off, the Post reports.
There are 9,500 employees at FBI headquarters, and the bureau has outgrown the Hoover Building, with the GSA putting workers at 12 buildings across the D.C. area. The GSA had been looking at building in Greenbelt, Maryland; Landover, Maryland; or Springfield, Virginia, but Congress never was able to come up with the necessary funds to build; former President Barack Obama had wanted $1.4 billion to construct the project, but in May, Congress came up a half-billion dollars short. In 2015, the Post was given a tour of the Hoover Building, which was crumbling, in need of modernization, and susceptible to attacks. When told by the Post about the search coming to an end, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) called it "an extremely alarming development," adding that "the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are putting the safety and security of our country at risk."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Playful goslings, an exploding snowman, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
What is rock flour and how can it help to fight climate change?
The Explainer Glacier dust to the rescue
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 19, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Post Office's Capture software to be reviewed over 'glitches'
Speed Read Solicitor representing accused postmasters says flaws in the IT system follow 'very similar pattern' to Horizon
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published