A bipartisan alliance of Virginia lawmakers is calling on the United States Office of Management and Budget to pause the relocation of the FBI headquarters amid an ongoing probe by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) over the site selection process.
“It is vital that both GSA and the FBI fully cooperate and provide relevant information to the Inspector General’s review, and that they allow time and space for investigatory efforts to reach a thorough conclusion,” the lawmakers said.
“All of the parties involved, including GSA and the FBI, had previously stated publicly the need for a process that was fair, transparent, and determined by the merits of the prospective sites.”
Review Sparked by Another Letter
The OIG announced a review of the FBI Headquarters selection process following a Nov. 15 letter from all the same lawmakers, who requested that the Inspector General investigate the site selection process. They allege it was the subject of political interference and other impropriety.
This sentiment was echoed by FBI Director Christopher Wray, who wrote in an internal email that the choice was made after a GSA executive overruled the first choice made by a board to pick land owned by a former employer in Maryland. A three-member panel initially unanimously backed the selection of Springfield, Virginia, before their recommendation was allegedly overturned.
“The FBI Director, Christopher Wray, has raised strenuous objections to both the process and outcome of the GSA-administered site selection process,” the lawmakers said in their recent letter.
“The nature of these concerns draws into question the integrity of a site selection process that demanded fairness and transparency, and they warrant thorough review.”
According to the lawmakers, this decision should not be taken lightly, as it bears a “significant impact on the law enforcement and national security missions of the FBI.”
“In light of the objections from the FBI, there is concern that this standard was not met. This process must be paused to allow for a fair and transparent review to address these concerns,” they said.
The effort to relocate the FBI has spanned years and multiple presidential administrations.
Virginia lawmakers have been pushing for the new headquarters to be located in their state because they see it as the best home, owing to its “diverse and developed workforce, proximity to critical national security facilities, and easy access to transit.”
However, Maryland officials argue, among other perks, the proposed 61-acre site in their state was next to the Greenbelt Metro station, making it far more convenient for the roughly 40 percent of FBI employees who live there.
