Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel confirmed on Tuesday that the agency will be closing its headquarters at the J. Edgar Hoover Building and opening a new headquarters at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
In a memo obtained by Fox News, Patel told FBI employees, “Team, the FBI Headquarters will be moving down the street to the Ronald Reagan Building, and the Hoover building will be shut down.”
In Tuesday’s memo, Patel explained that the FBI is the “world’s premier law enforcement agency” and claimed that the agency’s new headquarters “will reflect that fact.”
“After nearly 20 years of constant churn surrounding the matter, we’ve finally gotten it done,” Patel stated. The FBI director added that moving the agency’s headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building “will be the most cost-effective way to best serve the American people while most efficiently using the resources available to us.”
Fox News reported that the FBI and the General Services Administration have considered options for a new agency headquarters for over 10 years.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, General Services Administration Public Buildings Service Commissioner Michael Peters said, “This move not only provides a world-class location for the FBI’s public servants, but it also saves Americans billions of dollars on new construction and avoids more than $300 million in deferred maintenance costs at the J. Edgar Hoover facility.”
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In the memo obtained by Fox News, Patel emphasized that while he is working “closely with Congress and GSA” to move the agency’s headquarters “quickly,” there are “a lot of moving pieces” involved in the transition.
“We need to ensure our security and technology requirements are in place before HQ employees can begin making the move, in phases,” Patel stated. “Thanks in advance for your patience, and for staying the course.”
The FBI director also asked the agency’s employees to join him in “celebrating this historic milestone for the FBI.”
According to Fox News, a source with knowledge of the FBI’s decision to relocate to the Ronald Reagan Building told the outlet, “The Hoover building is a dump and not just unsafe for the FBI workforce, but unsafe for the country’s national security.”
In a statement to Fox News, President Donald Trump described the Ronald Reagan Building as “a wonderful building,” adding that the FBI is “a wonderful group of people.”
“The FBI will finally have the kind of building they deserve,” Trump said. “Congratulations to Kash Patel, Dan Bongino and all the great people at the FBI.”
