Maryland, Once Celebrating FBI Headquarters Win, Now Sues After Trump Administration’s Reversal

Push to Relocate Aging FBI Headquarters After Half a Century
Maryland Selected During Biden Administration
Maryland Pushes Back as Trump Administration Changes Course

Exterior view of the FBI headquarters building located in Washington D.C. Library of Congress

The state government of Maryland has filed a lawsuit against the administration of former President Donald Trump, which blocked the construction of a new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters that was planned near Washington.

According to the Associated Press and other sources on November 6 (local time), Maryland Governor Wes Moore and state leadership held a press conference that day, stating, "The Trump administration is pushing a plan to relocate the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building complex in downtown Washington," and strongly criticized the move, saying, "This overturns the Biden administration’s decision, made after extensive review, to select the Greenbelt site in Maryland."

Previously, after years of discussion, the FBI had decided to build its new headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. However, after the Trump administration took office, the plan changed dramatically. Instead, the FBI announced it would move to the Ronald Reagan Building, located a few blocks from its current headquarters in downtown. Governor Moore pointed out, "That building is too old, too small, and too exposed." He emphasized, "As of 2025, the current FBI headquarters does not meet the modern security facilities and safety requirements needed," adding, "This is not simply a relocation, but an issue directly tied to national security."

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, a Democrat, stated, "At its core, this situation is about the Trump administration trying to nullify a decision already made by Congress simply because it does not like it," and argued, "This is a clear violation of federal law and a breach of congressional directives." He said, "The Trump administration is attempting to illegally divert more than $1 billion in funds that Congress specifically allocated for the Greenbelt project. They ignored Greenbelt, which was selected as one of three finalist sites, violated the obligation to consult with state and local governments, and scrapped years of planning without any reasonable justification." He continued, "This federal lawsuit aims to halt the illegal selection of the Reagan Building, prevent the diversion of congressionally approved funds, and compel the Trump administration to follow legal procedures." According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Maryland has consistently argued that hosting the FBI headquarters would save $1 billion. Previously, Maryland and Virginia competed over the relocation of the FBI headquarters, which employs about 11,000 people in total, including approximately 7,500 jobs directly related to the headquarters. In 2023, Maryland was selected as the site.

The current FBI headquarters is located in the J. Edgar Hoover Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, completed in 1975. Due to its aging condition and the risk of debris falling from the exterior walls, safety nets have been installed outside the building to protect pedestrians. The building is designed in the Brutalism architectural style.