Van Hollen, Cardin Statement on House Move to Cut Funding for FBI Headquarters Consolidation

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, criticized the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government's move to rescinded $200 million for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters relocation project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 appropriations bill. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen recently secured funding for the project in the FY17 Omnibus Funding Bill, which included a commitment from Congress to fund the remainder of the project in Fiscal Year 2018

"Apparently, the Trump Administration has persuaded House Republicans to renege on their commitment to support the FBI. The full consolidation of the FBI is necessary for it to meet its mission to protect the American people. Despite the critical need to ensure the FBI is capable of keeping our nation safe, the Administration would rather spend money on an ineffective and wasteful border wall. We will fight this misguided effort to throw a wrench in this project at a critical time for our nation's security."

Relocation will allow the FBI to move from its outdated headquarters in the J. Edgar Hoover Building and more than 20 satellite offices across the D.C. region into a single headquarters built to meet the agency's requirements. The project has been authorized by Congress and has had the strong support of Maryland's Congressional delegation to provide the necessary resources, including more than $500 million in FY 2017 and $390 million in FY 2016. Two of the final three sites on the GSA shortlist are in Maryland, and both Prince George's County and the State have committed support for the project. It would bring nearly 11,000 jobs to Maryland.