OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
5:10 PM – Thursday, November 30, 2023
The Biden Administration is under examination due to its decision to move the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters to Greenbelt, Maryland.
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A federal watchdog is in the process of investigating how the Biden Administration decided to move the location of the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt, Maryland.
Maryland lawmakers have announced that they are determined that the “new FBI headquarters project is moving forward.”
“Let us be perfectly clear: the new FBI headquarters project is moving forward,” Maryland lawmakers said in a statement. “The GSA (General Services Administration) selected Greenbelt for the new, consolidated FBI headquarters based on the fact that it is the best site. Any objective evaluation will find that the GSA arrived at this decision after a thorough and transparent process.”
However, the decision to move the FBI headquarters has been in controversy between placing the facility either in Maryland or Virginia.
According to a letter released Thursday by Virginia lawmakers, the Inspector General for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is investigating the decision to move the FBI facility to Greenbelt, Maryland instead of placing it in Virginia.
Earlier this month, lawmakers explained in a collaborative press conference the reason why Maryland is an excellent spot for the new facility to be located.
The newly located FBI headquarters would replace the agency’s current diminishing headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D-Md.) highlighted that the current FBI facility in Washington, D.C. is “crumbling” and a new location for the building is “desperately needed.”
Moore additionally stated that the FBI “belongs in Maryland.”
“At a time when the current FBI building in Washington, D.C., is literally falling apart; at a time when incidents of hate crimes are growing here at home; at a time when the nature of national security is changing, with an increased focus on cybersecurity; at a time when access to affordable transit isn’t just a bonus, it’s a necessity for employees in the modern workforce—in this time and in this moment, there is no question. The FBI belongs in Maryland,” Moore said. “And we know we have always won on the merits. We’re not just excited about this because it’s the right choice for Maryland—we’re excited about this because it’s the right choice for the country, and it’s the right choice for the FBI too. Bringing the bureau to Maryland will benefit the mission of the FBI for generations to come.”
According to the GSA, the site in Greenbelt, Maryland will be the newly established location for the FBI due to scoring high in four out of five sections.
The GSA announced the benefits of the Greenbelt location:
“Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, due to its 0.1 mile walking distance to Metro and commuter rail. Greenbelt provides for a consistent and predictable construction schedule as the site is owned by a public entity and offers a clear public process and timeline to achieve site control. Greenbelt offers the best opportunity for the government’s investment to positively impact region through sustainable and equitable development. Greenbelt provides the lowest overall cost to taxpayers,” the GSA stated.
Additionally, Moore mentioned that the new FBI facility will bring in over 7,500 new careers and create more than $4 billion in economic activity.
“After assessing the facts, the GSA determined that Greenbelt offers the lowest price and best value to taxpayers, the easiest access to public transportation, the most schedule certainty to ensure the FBI can move to a new headquarters that meets its mission and security needs as soon as possible, and the greatest opportunity to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s equity goals,” Maryland lawmakers said. “The GSA made its decision accordingly. Although some may not like that outcome, the GSA has clearly demonstrated that this process was transparent.”
Additionally, the GSA, which operates the government’s real estate portfolio, stated that the Greenbelt location was chosen for the FBI headquarters because it “was the cheapest and had the best access to public transit.”
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By: OAN
