On Monday, the inspector general for the Government Services Administration, which oversees the federal government's real estate, released a report confirming that President Trump had met at least twice with GSA officials about replacing the FBI headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C. At the first meeting in January, participants agreed to pursue razing the FBI headquarters and rebuilding it in the same spot, not build a new campus in suburban Maryland or Virginia, the plan for a decade. The decision was announced a few days later.
In April, GSA Administrator Emily Murphy gave “incomplete” testimony to Congress that "may have left the misleading impression that she had no discussions with White House officials in the decision-making process about the project," though her answers were "literally true," the IG report found. It's not clear what role Trump played in the decision, as GSA employees were instructed by the White House counsel's office "not to disclose any statements made by the president" in the meetings to the inspector general, citing executive privilege — even though the inspector general's office "is part of GSA and within the Executive Branch," the report said.
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.
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraudSpeed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strikeSpeed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
-
US economy still strong in final preelection reportSpeed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strikeSpeed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strikeSpeed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homesSpeed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bidSpeed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
