Where to place the FBI’s new headquarters, a decision nearly a decade in the making, has been decided. The General Services Administration has announced that it selected Greenbelt, Maryland for the new headquarters. Maryland was in fierce competition with Virginia for the project.
In a statement, GSA said it determined Greenbelt to be the best option for the FBI and the U.S. government because the site was the lowest cost to taxpayers, provided the greatest transportation access to FBI employees and visitors, and gave the government the most certainty on project delivery schedule. It also provided the highest potential to advance sustainability and equity.
The site will span 61 acres immediately adjacent to the Greenbelt Metro Station. According to NBC News , about 7,500 jobs are connected to the facility.
Governor Wes Moore and other Maryland leaders, united as “Team Maryland” for the FBI’s site selection process, issued a joint statement on Thursday .
“Team Maryland has worked tirelessly to deliver this result together,” the group said in a statement. “Our close cooperation will continue as we break ground on this new headquarters and tackle other pressing issues facing Marylanders. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure the FBI has the best possible headquarters in the quickest timeframe so that we can facilitate a smooth transition to Prince George’s County.”
Team Maryland also gathered for a press conference Friday morning, where public officials celebrated the teamwork behind the win and the opportunities the project will provide to Marylanders.
During the briefing, Governor Moore said the new FBI campus coming to Maryland would "solidify our state as the tech and cyber capital of the United States."
Maryland's already robust federal sector and cybersecurity sector include headquarters for the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).