Statement from County Executive Baker: GSA Decision Regarding Future FBI Headquarters

Press Release

For Immediate Release:

February 12, 2018

 

For Information Contact:

Scott L. Peterson

Press Secretary/Deputy Communications Manager

Phone: 240-619-9400

 

Statement From County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III:

GSA Decision Regarding Future FBI Headquarters

 

Upper Marlboro, MD - Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, released this statement following the announcement today of the joint report from the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) submitted to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works regarding a new FBI headquarters. GSA and FBI recommended in the report that a new headquarters facility be constructed at the FBI’s current location in Washington, DC. The Baker Administration has been working on potential locations for a new FBI Headquarters in Prince George’s County. The Prince George’s County sites, at the Greenbelt Metro Station and the former Landover Mall site, were two of the three finalists locations for the FBI Headquarters selected as a result of an arduous procurement process over the last five years.  

“After years of analysis, proposals, briefings and an estimated $65 million dollars spent, the news that GSA is recommending that the FBI headquarters remain in its current location is extremely frustrating. The concept of a consolidated FBI that would house 11,000 employees was well thought out and supported by both the Bush and Obama administrations. Not only have resources and money been wasted, but more importantly, we are no closer to providing the American people the increased security and safety they desperately need from a consolidated and high security campus. 

This decision is beyond logic but it is clearly political. The Trump Administration is now proposing to spread FBI offices across the country to states like Alabama, Idaho, and West Virginia – all states that voted for President Trump. Furthermore, the report submitted to Congress today ignores hundreds of millions of dollars in extra costs used to suddenly justify what was once the most expensive option as now the cheapest option.

Prince George’s County has two outstanding sites that can safely and efficiently accommodate the present and future needs of the FBI, and we have patiently and methodically worked with the GSA and FBI through the prescribed processes. It is an affront to this County that this decision would be made in such an arbitrary and irresponsible manner. I will continue working with our Congressional Delegation to see what can be done moving forward about this project.”

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