By Steve Neavling
After nearly two decades of stalled efforts to replace its aging headquarters, the FBI is moving into the Ronald Reagan Building complex in downtown Washington, D.C., federal officials announced Monday.
The long-anticipated decision comes after previous plans to build a new suburban campus, which were expected to cost billions and take years to complete, were ultimately scrapped. Instead, the FBI will relocate to an existing government-owned property in the heart of the capital, a move the Trump administration says will save taxpayers money while meeting the bureau’s needs.
“This is a historic moment for the FBI,” Director Kash Patel said in a statement. “Through our strong partnerships with members of Congress and GSA, we are ushering FBI Headquarters into a new era and providing our agents of justice a safer place to work. Moving to the Ronald Reagan Building is the most cost effective and resource efficient way to carry out our mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution.”
The Hoover Building, the FBI’s current headquarters since 1975, has long been criticized as outdated and unsafe, with federal officials citing deteriorating infrastructure and serious maintenance issues, including crumbling concrete and failing water systems.
“FBI’s existing headquarters at the Hoover building is a great example of a government building that has accumulated years of deferred maintenance,” said Stephen Ehikian, acting administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal real estate. “I am proud of the GSA’s commitment to working with Director Patel and his FBI team to find a building that best supports their mission and their people.”
The move avoids more than $300 million in overdue repairs at the Hoover building and is expected to save billions in new construction costs, according to GSA Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters.
“This move not only provides a world-class location for the FBI’s public servants, but it also saves Americans billions of dollars,” Peters said.
The Reagan Building currently houses U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal tenants. The GSA said it will work with those agencies to ensure a smooth transition as the FBI prepares to relocate.
