Washington, D.C. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will relocate approximately 1,500 personnel from its long-standing headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of a broader plan to modernize the agency’s infrastructure and operations, according to a recent announcement from General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Robin Carnahan and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The move marks a significant milestone in the history of the FBI, signaling the eventual closure of the iconic J. Edgar Hoover Building, which has served as the Bureau’s main headquarters since 1975. The decision to transition operations out of the deteriorating downtown facility was confirmed during recent congressional hearings and public statements by agency officials.
A Long-Awaited Transition
The relocation is part of a long-standing effort to replace the aging Hoover Building with a more secure, state-of-the-art headquarters better suited for the FBI’s evolving mission. The initiative has been years in the making, with multiple proposals and site evaluations under consideration since at least the early 2010s.
GSA and the FBI finalized plans to establish a new headquarters campus in Greenbelt, Maryland, a suburb just northeast of the District. The decision to select Greenbelt over other competing sites – including Springfield, Virginia, and Landover, Maryland – has sparked political debate, but federal officials have emphasized the site’s strategic advantages, including access to public transportation, proximity to major highways, and ample space for a secure perimeter.
Personnel Reassignments Underway
As part of the transition, 1,500 FBI personnel will begin relocating out of the Hoover Building in phases over the coming months. While the agency has not disclosed the specific locations for all reassigned staff, many are expected to move to existing FBI facilities across the National Capital Region, including Quantico, Virginia, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
“Modernizing the FBI’s workspaces will allow us to better meet the demands of our mission and provide a safer, more efficient environment for our employees,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate during a recent briefing.
The relocation effort will be coordinated with the GSA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), with the goal of minimizing disruption to ongoing investigations and national security operations. The agency emphasized that all critical FBI services will remain uninterrupted during the transition.
Hoover Building Faces Closure
Built in the mid-1970s and named after the Bureau’s first director, J. Edgar Hoover, the current FBI headquarters has long been criticized for its outdated design and deteriorating condition. Crumbling concrete panels, outdated security systems, and inefficient workspace layouts have made the facility increasingly difficult to maintain.
In a 2011 report, the GSA declared the building “functionally obsolete” and recommended a complete replacement. That recommendation led to years of planning and negotiation among federal agencies and congressional stakeholders.
Now, with funding and site approval in place, the closure of the Hoover Building is set to proceed gradually. The timeline for the full decommissioning of the facility remains flexible, depending on construction progress at the new Greenbelt campus and the relocation of all remaining personnel.
Congressional Oversight and Debate
The FBI’s relocation has not been without controversy. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the decision-making process behind the selection of the Greenbelt site. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and others have called for greater transparency, citing concerns about political influence and the cost of the project.
However, GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan defended the process, stating that the site selection followed a competitive, criteria-based evaluation. She emphasized that Greenbelt met the most criteria for security, accessibility, and long-term viability.
Meanwhile, Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official and vocal critic of the FBI, commented on the move during a recent media appearance. Patel characterized the relocation as a “retreat” from the agency’s historical presence in the capital and accused the Bureau of lacking accountability in its operational decisions.
FBI officials dismissed Patel’s comments as political posturing and reaffirmed the necessity of the move based on practical and operational needs.
Looking Ahead
The FBI’s move to a new headquarters is being viewed as both a logistical challenge and an opportunity to reshape the agency’s future. With construction of the Greenbelt facility expected to begin in late 2025, the full relocation and decommissioning process could span the next decade.
The new campus is planned to accommodate up to 7,500 personnel and will include secure laboratories, high-tech investigative units, and expanded cybersecurity operations. Environmental assessments and community engagement efforts are already underway in Prince George’s County, where Greenbelt is located.
Federal officials say the project represents one of the largest investments in domestic law enforcement infrastructure in recent history.
“This is a generational transformation for the FBI,” said Administrator Carnahan. “It’s about giving our nation’s top law enforcement agency the tools and space it needs to carry out its vital mission in the 21st century.”
For now, as FBI personnel begin their phased relocations, the closure of the J. Edgar Hoover Building stands as a symbolic turning point – the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the Bureau.