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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is set to relocate its headquarters to Greenbelt, Maryland, concluding a prolonged debate about the agency’s future outside its longstanding Washington DC location.

The decision, which followed a thorough site selection process involving three finalists, positions the new headquarters within a 61-acre mixed-use development adjacent to the Greenbelt Metro station, an area planned to include residential units, commercial spaces, and a hotel.

Maryland officials have been attentive to the site selection, anticipating a significant economic boost from the project. Early contention regarding site criteria—initially perceived as biased towards the FBI’s Quantico, Virginia, facility—was mitigated by changes advocated by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) that eventually tipped the scales in Maryland’s favor.

Disputes have surrounded the relocation effort, with some within FBI leadership preferring to stay in Washington DC, while others highlight the need to consolidate employees.
Despite conservative criticism from figures like then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about centralizing FBI operations, the final selection was made by a panel from the General Services Administration and the FBI, receiving approval from both the GSA and the White House.