In a major shift for the nation’s top law enforcement agency, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday that the bureau will vacate its headquarters in the iconic J. Edgar Hoover Building, a fixture on Pennsylvania Avenue NW since 1975.
Appearing on Fox News, Patel said the decision stems from serious concerns about the condition of the building and a broader effort to decentralize FBI operations.
“This FBI is leaving the Hoover building because this building is unsafe for our workforce,” Patel said. “We want the American men and women to know if you’re going to come work at the premier law enforcement agency in the world, we’re going to give you a building that’s commensurate with that — and that’s not this place.”
Patel did not elaborate on the specific safety hazards, nor did he provide a timeline for the departure. However, he did reveal that 1,500 FBI employees would be relocated to field offices and facilities across the country as part of a broader redistribution strategy.
Strategic Realignment
Currently, about 11,000 FBI employees work within a 50-mile radius of the nation’s capital. Patel argued that this centralization no longer reflects the geographic distribution of federal crime threats.
“That’s like a third of the workforce. A third of the crime doesn’t happen here,” he said. “We are taking 1,500 of those folks and moving them out. Every state is getting a plus-up.”
According to Patel, the relocation effort is not just about logistics but also about mission alignment and recruitment. “When we do things like that, we inspire folks in America to become intel analysts and agents and say we want to work at the FBI because we want to fight violent crime and we want to be sent out into the country to do it.”
A Long-Delayed Move
The fate of the FBI’s headquarters has been debated for nearly a decade. The Hoover Building — often described as aging and outdated — has been flagged as a poor fit for a modern federal agency. As early as 2015, The Washington Post reported that the structure was "crumbling."
In 2016, the General Services Administration (GSA) proposed a new headquarters and identified three potential sites: Greenbelt and Landover in Maryland, and Springfield, Virginia. But progress stalled when Congress failed to fund the $1.4 billion project, allocating only $523 million.
Congress revived the project in 2022, directing the GSA to select a new site promptly. In 2023, the agency chose Greenbelt, citing its cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and sustainability. GSA officials said it provided the "greatest transportation access" and “most certainty on project delivery.”
Controversy and Political Pushback
The GSA’s decision to select Greenbelt, however, triggered sharp backlash from Virginia lawmakers, who claimed the choice ignored expert recommendations. A three-person panel of career officials from the GSA and FBI had favored Springfield, Virginia, before being overruled by a political appointee.
The controversy sparked a federal watchdog investigation into the selection process amid concerns over political interference.
Then, in March 2025, former President Donald Trump publicly criticized the Greenbelt plan and announced his intention to block the move.
“They were going to build an FBI headquarters three hours away in Maryland, a liberal state, but that has no bearing on what I’m about to say,” Trump stated. “We’re going to stop it. Not going to let that happen. We’re going to build another big FBI building right where it is… The FBI and DOJ have to be near each other.”
What Comes Next?
Despite the political back-and-forth, Patel’s announcement signals a decisive turn in the bureau’s future. While the fate of a new central headquarters remains uncertain, the FBI’s strategy to diversify its footprint across the country appears to be moving forward.
It remains unclear where — or if — a permanent replacement for the Hoover Building will be constructed. Meanwhile, the relocation of 1,500 employees marks a tangible start to reshaping the agency's national presence.
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