By Steve Neavling
The FBI is considering relocating its elite National Academy from Quantico, Virginia, to Huntsville, Ala., a move that has sparked internal criticism and concern about costs, according to multiple sources familiar with the proposal, The Washington Post reports.
The effort is being led by FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino as part of a broader Trump administration plan to reduce the bureau’s presence in the Washington area and shift more personnel to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal, a growing FBI hub.
The National Academy trains promising law enforcement leaders from around the world in a 10-week program separate from the FBI’s new agent training, which would remain at Quantico. Critics inside the bureau say the Quantico facilities were recently upgraded and warn Huntsville lacks comparable infrastructure without significant investment.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed the agency is exploring cost-effective relocation options but offered no further details.
FBI Training Division chief Brian Dugan recently retired under unclear circumstances, just months after being appointed to the role. Some insiders believe the push to move the National Academy may have played a role in his departure.
The relocation proposal comes amid sweeping changes under FBI Director Kash Patel and Bongino, both Trump allies with no prior FBI experience. Since their appointments, the pair have ousted veteran leadership and prioritized immigration enforcement, while advancing plans to move up to 1,500 employees out of D.C., including 500 to Huntsville.
Virginia lawmakers say they were not notified of the potential downsizing.
Del. Candi Mundon King, who represents the Quantico area, said the move would be “devastating to the community.”
“These are jobs we are losing, which impacts our local economy,” the state lawmaker said.
