Van Hollen: Language To Advance The Process For A New, Consolidated Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Headquarters In The Omnibus FY2022 Funding Package

By Lindiwe Vilakazi // Prince George’s Suite Magazine & Media

Just a few short years ago, the county was the home of two of three locations that the federal government was considering for the relocation of a new headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (Greenbelt, Landover and Springfield).

If the relocation came to Prince George’s it would bring hundreds of jobs, new residents and consumers and residual business development to the county.

But it was all derailed by the Trump Administration in 2018. Plans were halted once the Administration contested to resurrect the headquarters on the same property that currently occupies the reportedly irreparable J. Edgar Hoover building.

But as COVID closures give way to reopenings and the Biden Administration enters its second year, the possibility of a renewed commitment to relocating the nation’s leading law enforcement agency was rekindled in the question of Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President and CEO Jim Estepp of Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) at the March 9 meeting.

“There's potential, and I'm very hopeful,” Brown replied when Estepp asked if there is any new potential to bring the FBI HQ to Maryland. “We all know that we were literally days away from that RFP award to be announced,” Brown said of the moment in 2018.

Brown continued: “Since the arrival of the Biden Administration, we (House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-Dist. 5), Ben Cardin, (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and the entire Congressional delegation) went to the White House, spoke with the Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, made the case, gave him the background, and the Biden Administration is committed, because everybody in Washington wants to move the FBI out of DC.”

Brown reported to the Roundtable that he believed a new announcement would be just days away. He was right.

Maryland state representatives led by Brown, Hoyer, Cardin and Van Hollen, have coordinated language within the fiscal year 2022’s omnibus funding package, signed into law by President Biden March 15, giving greater promise of landing the new headquarters within the county.

The General Services Administration (GSA) reignited plans for relocating the FBI headquarters currently residing in the J. Edgar Hoover building at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, to a larger and more adaptable location to accommodate the bureau’s operations, and desired consolidation.

“Getting the FBI a new, consolidated headquarters remains a critical National Security priority. The language signed into law today will require that the GSA select a site from one of the three options previously identified by the GSA and the FBI during the Obama Administration, each of which can meet the needs of a new FBI,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement March 15. “We continue to believe that the Maryland sites offer the best opportunity for a new, consolidated FBI headquarters and will keep working to achieve that goal.”

Estepp responded favorably to the news.

“I’m elated to see that our congressional delegation is taking bold action through the omnibus spending package to get the consolidated FBI HQ project moving,” said Estepp. “This is an important step toward achieving that goal.”

While the impending stamp of relocation seems to be near, plans for the Bureau’s new residence within Prince George’s county were actually discussed between the GSA, and FBI during the Obama administration; as Greenbelt, Springfield and Landover.

The latest development of the omnibus funding package could present great economic benefits, and opportunities for Prince George’s county, leading Congressman Anthony Brown, along with Maryland representative’s to present their case to support the FBI relocation to Chief of Staff Ron Klain, and the Biden Administration. He shared that the only pushback may stem from FBI Director Tom Wray himself.

“He [would like to see the FBI] stay in the District of Columbia. Even the District of Columbia doesn’t really want the FBI there. They would rather convert that property to revenue-producing activities, so they’re more than happy to see it moved out of DC,” said Brown.

“We believe that Maryland continues and Prince George’s County continues to be the strongest location.”

After the site is selected, GSA would have 180 days to send a report to Congress that would allow Congress to authorize the construction of the FBI facilities at the site, according to a statement published on Sen. Van Hollen’s website.

Despite the opposing views, Prince George’s county leaders, and business experts alike stand in staunch support of Maryland lawmakers in their fight to bring the headquarters to the county.

When asked what the timetable might e for the decision and the groundbreaking, Brown responded that the administration would take steps to avoid the appearance of politics looming in the final decision, so it may take some time.

“If they got to go through, do their due diligence, check the blocks, the commitment is to get this thing back on track,” Brown said. “My guess though is if you were on track today, you wouldn't see dirt move for another three years, and it's not back on track today. We're probably talking a 3 to 5-year timeline at best.”