PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — The Prince George's County Council wants a seat at the table as the FBI advances with plans to move their headquarters from D.C. to Maryland.
Nearly six months, after Greenbelt was selected as the new proposed home for the FBI headquarters, the council's chair, Jolene Ivey, sent a letter to Maryland's Congressional Delegation asking to be included in the relocation process.
"As the FBI relocation project progresses, the Prince George's County Council, as a part of the governing body, requests the General Service Administration to consider a representative from the County Council to be included in the relocation process to Greenbelt, Maryland," Ivey wrote.
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.
"The relocation of the FBI headquarters will undoubtedly have substantial implications for Prince George's County and its residents," Ivey added.
She said that by actively having a member of the council participating in discussions surrounding the FBI relocation, they can ensure that their residents' interests are heard.
"It is going to be a long process, and I know the federal government isn't required to include us in anything," Ivey said/. "We just want to be at the table, to be there as a communication tool with the public, so they can hear from the public what we hear, what we see, and what we would like."
A report published by the General Service Administration (GSA), which is the agency that oversees the project, shows that construction on the proposed FBI headquarters is set to begin in 2029 and end in 2035. Occupying the new headquarters would start in 2036.
During this latest legislative session, Prince George's County secured $100 million for the proposed future site of the FBI headquarters and additional funds to support infrastructure projects in the area.
The GSA's selection of Greenbelt over Springfield, Virginia faced backlash and prompted a probe from the inspector general for the GSA.
Wray said that a GSA executive named Nina Albert, who now works for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, was allegedly biased toward Prince George's County and allegedly had a conflict of interest since she used to work for Metro, and Metro owns the land the federal government has to buy in order to build the new headquarters.
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