GSA selects Greenbelt, Maryland, for new FBI headquarters location
FBI director concerned about 'potential conflict of interest,' AP reports
FBI director concerned about 'potential conflict of interest,' AP reports
FBI director concerned about 'potential conflict of interest,' AP reports
The federal government has selected Greenbelt, Prince George's County, for the FBI's new headquarters, but there might be a snag.
The decision comes after a lengthy process looking at sites in Maryland and Virginia. The final decision was made by the U.S. General Services Administration.
"GSA determined Greenbelt to be the best site because it was the lowest cost to taxpayers, provided the greatest transportation access to FBI employees and visitors and gave the government the most certainty on project delivery schedule," a GSA representative said.
Last year, Congress directed the GSA to consider three sites for the new headquarters. The other two sites in consideration as of March were Landover, Maryland, and Springfield, Virginia.
"GSA looks forward to building the FBI a state-of-the-art headquarters campus in Greenbelt to advance their critical mission for years to come," GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said.
AP: FBI director concerned over selection process
On Thursday, the Associated Press reported it obtained an email from FBI Director Christopher Wray, telling his staff that he is concerned about a "potential conflict of interest" and that Congress may review the matter.
Wray said his objections were about the selection process rather than the site itself.
A board that included representatives from the GSA and the FBI unanimously agreed on Springfield, Wray wrote in his email. But in an "exceedingly rare" move, a senior GSA executive changed course and went with the land Greenbelt, the FBI director said.
The 61-acre Greenbelt site owned by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is near the Metro station and the Beltway Plaza Mall. Wray said WMATA is a former employer of the GSA executive.
"The FBI observed that, at times, outside information was inserted into the process in a manner which appeared to disproportionately favor Greenbelt, and the justifications for the departures from the panel were varied and inconsistent," Wray wrote. "Despite our engagement with GSA over the last two months on these issues, our concerns about the process remain unresolved. There are still a lot of open questions, and we've still got a long way to go."
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, urged an investigation, saying: "I had felt that this has been grossly political with efforts to try to change the criteria, but I was astounded when we found out that three career officials unanimously picked Virginia and a political appointee overturned it. Clearly, there needs to be an inspector general investigation."
GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan stood behind the agency's work, saying officials followed all laws and ethical considerations: "Any suggestion that there was inappropriate interference is unfounded."
White House principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton did not comment on whether President Joe Biden had any direct involvement in the final site decision, but defended the process.
"I can tell you it was a fair and transparent process," Dalton told reporters on Air Force One as Biden traveled to Illinois on Thursday. "The 61 acres in Greenbelt is both the lowest cost to taxpayers, most transportation options for FBI workers, and we had the most assurances about the expeditious means with which a project could get underway."
Maryland congressional delegation call decision 'exciting moment'
Maryland U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-District 5, said Wray has previously indicated he would prefer to stay in Washington, but experts said a suburban location is a better choice for the agency's long-term security.
"To say somehow this process was skewed is wrong," Hoyer said.
Members of Maryland's congressional delegation told 11 News vital parts of the process included transportation access, equity and taxpayer cost.
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told 11 News via video call Wednesday night: "It's such an exciting moment, it's great for our future. GSA made the right decision -- it's the right decision for the FBI, it's the right decision for taxpayers, and it's certainly the right decision for equity and fairness, so it's a big day for Maryland."
Via telephone, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen told 11 News Wednesday night: "It's a huge project. It will mean lots of good paying jobs for Marylanders in terms of the construction phase, and, of course, when the headquarters is there, you are going to have all sorts of other businesses that want to move to the area to be in proximity to the headquarters of the FBI. So, this is a really good day for Maryland's economy and for the folks who call Maryland home."
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore released a joint statement along with other leaders, saying, in part, "This is a historic moment for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and our nation. For decades, the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover Building has failed to meet the FBI's operational needs, which has undermined our national security. The once fabled building has crumbled before our eyes, with nets surrounding the facility for years to protect pedestrians from falling debris. Today's decision by the General Services Administration will ensure we fulfill the FBI's dire, longstanding need for a new consolidated headquarters that meets the modern-day demands on the Bureau's work to protect Americans and our nation."