FBI Director Kash Patel announced on July 1, 2025, that the bureau will relocate its headquarters from the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building to the nearby Ronald Reagan Building complex in downtown Washington, D.C. The decision, declared a “historic moment,” reverses the Biden-era plan to shift the agency out to suburban Greenbelt, Maryland.
Patel highlighted major safety concerns and deferred maintenance at the Hoover Building, pointing to decaying infrastructure and falling debris. The Reagan Building, an already existing federal facility, offers existing space—including offices of Customs and Border Protection—and avoids costs associated with new construction.
This shift aligns with Patel and President Trump’s strategy to tighten the FBI’s footprint in D.C. while dispersing some personnel nationwide, including to Alabama and other field offices. Trump praised the move, calling the Reagan Building “a wonderful building” that the FBI deserves.
Yet the decision sparked immediate backlash. Lawmakers in Maryland and Virginia, who backed the suburban campus, are airing strong objections. Maryland officials vow to fight the plan, citing long-term security needs that a true purpose-built campus would better meet.
No official timeline has emerged for the transition, though GSA and FBI officials aim for a swift conversion. Final details regarding tenant displacement and sweeping logistical changes remain in progress.
The move anchors the FBI back in central D.C., with Patel calling it a historic era for law enforcement and internal reform. It reflects the broader Trump administration goal of reshaping federal agencies while asserting cost-efficient, mission-ready operations close to the Justice Department.
