GREENBELT, Md. — The mood was joyous and jubilant during a Friday morning press conference celebrating the decision to bring the new headquarters of the FBI to Prince George's County. Several state leaders praised the years-long effort to bring the building to Maryland, while making it clear that the decision was final.
The GSA announced Wednesday the $4 billion dollar project will go in Greenbelt Maryland – passing up a site in Springfield Virginia.
"We have been at this for over 10 years. There is no going back. We are going forward. The FBI headquarters will be built here in Greenbelt," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen.
Van Hollen and others slammed FBI Director Chris Wray for comments he made calling into question the legitimacy of the selection process. The governor of Virginia, both senators, and a bipartisan group of congressional representatives are demanding the decision should be immediately overturned.
An unprecedented letter was sent Thursday morning from Wray to all FBI employees. In the letter, Wray highlights concerns about "fairness and transparency" in the process that ultimately awarded the new headquarters project to Prince George's County.
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Friday, Maryland leaders fired back. Rep. Glenn Ivey called Wray's comments "astonishing."
"We won in every category. [The headquarters building] had to come to Greenbelt. No other decision could be made," Ivey said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Steny Hoyer, who has been pushing for the FBI headquarters move for 14 years, was adamant that the site was selected based on merit and not for political reasons.
"This is done. I understand that the Virginia delegation has raised issues. Those issues are issues that someone who didn't get the project is going to say," Hoyer said Friday.
Maryland leaders acknowledge that the GSA's decision does not end this. It's all about funding in Congress now with a lot of politics involved. But they are convinced here that Maryland has momentum now on its side.
"Welcome to Maryland, FBI. We've been waiting for you for a very, very, very long time," said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said Friday. Miller called the decision a gamechanger for the people of Prince George's County.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Wray are calling for a do-over.
Wray raised questions about the motives of former GSA executive Nina Albert – who used to work for Metro and now does economic development for the District.
"So there's no more conversation," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. "There's no more deliberation. There's no more questioning. It's over the FBI building will be coming to Maryland and we could not be more excited and we are ready."
The new FBI headquarters is expected to bring about 2,000 jobs to the area. Also, the more than 7,000 FBI employees at the current headquarters in D.C. will move to the new location. Officials estimate more than $4 billion in economic activity as a result of the new location.
Moore said his administration is excited to work with the FBI.
"This isn't selling, this is a celebration," Moore said at the press conference. "We're ready to get to work."