Federal Judge Blocks FBI HQ Relocation to Reagan Building
A federal judge blocked FBI Director Kash Patel and the Trump administration’s plan to move FBI headquarters from the aging J. Edgar Hoover Building to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The ruling, favoring Maryland and Prince George’s County, found the decision violated federal site-selection laws and congressional mandates. The judge ordered restoration of plans to build a new complex in Greenbelt, Maryland, though Congress has not yet approved funding. The dispute, ongoing for nearly two decades, continues.
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Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Plan to Move FBI Headquarters to Reagan Building
A federal judge in Maryland, Theodore Chuang, issued a permanent injunction blocking the Trump administration's plan to relocate the FBI headquarters from the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building to the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. The ruling, stemming from a lawsuit by Maryland and Prince George's County, found that the move violated congressional spending bills requiring the General Services Administration (GSA) to select a site from a shortlist that included Greenbelt, Maryland. The Biden administration had previously chosen Greenbelt, but the Trump administration scrapped that plan in 2025. The judge noted that Congress had not approved the Reagan Building and that no architectural plan had been submitted for the Greenbelt site. The FBI criticized the ruling as political interference, while Maryland officials celebrated the decision as clearing the path for the Greenbelt project. The GSA estimated the Reagan Building retrofit would cost $1.4 billion.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Plan to Move FBI Headquarters to Reagan Building
A federal judge in Maryland has permanently blocked the Trump administration's plan to relocate the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ruled that the move violates congressional spending bills, which require the General Services Administration (GSA) to select one of three shortlisted suburban sites, including Greenbelt, Maryland. The ruling prevents the administration from using funds already appropriated for the project. The Trump administration had scrapped the Biden-era selection of Greenbelt in 2025, opting instead for the Reagan Building. Maryland and Prince George's County led the lawsuit. The FBI criticized the ruling as political interference, while Maryland officials hailed it as a victory. The judge noted that no architectural plan for the Reagan Building has been submitted to Congress, and the FY 2026 spending package does not approve the site. The GSA had estimated $1.4 billion to retrofit the Reagan Building.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Plan to Move FBI Headquarters to Reagan Building
A federal judge in Maryland, Theodore Chuang, issued a permanent injunction blocking the Trump administration's plan to relocate the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. The ruling found that the move violated spending bills passed by Congress, which required the General Services Administration (GSA) to select one of three shortlisted suburban sites, including Greenbelt, Maryland. The Trump administration had scrapped the Biden-era selection of Greenbelt in 2025. The judge noted that Congress had not approved the Reagan Building site and that no architectural plan had been submitted as required by the FY 2026 spending deal. The lawsuit was led by Maryland and Prince George's County. The FBI criticized the ruling as political interference, while Maryland's Attorney General hailed it as clearing the path for the Greenbelt project. The GSA had estimated $1.4 billion to retrofit the Reagan Building.
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Judge Blocks Trump's Plan to Keep FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
A federal judge in Maryland, Theodore Chuang, blocked President Donald Trump's plan to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., ruling that the decision illegally discarded the General Services Administration's (GSA) congressionally approved 2023 plan to build a new complex in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Trump administration had sought to move the FBI from its aging J. Edgar Hoover Building to the Ronald Reagan Building, a few blocks away, and divert about $1 billion in funding approved for the Greenbelt campus. Maryland sued after Trump reversed the Biden-era decision. The judge's ruling bars the administration from proceeding with the Reagan Building move or diverting the funds. The New York Times noted the ruling is likely not the end of the lengthy dispute, and the FBI continues to operate from its deteriorating current headquarters.
Judge Blocks Trump's Plan to Keep FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
A federal judge in Maryland, Theodore Chuang, blocked President Donald Trump's plan to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., ruling that the administration illegally discarded a congressionally approved 2023 decision by the General Services Administration (GSA) to build a new complex in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Trump administration had sought to move the FBI from the J. Edgar Hoover Building to the Ronald Reagan Building, a few blocks away, diverting about $1 billion in funding approved for the Maryland campus. Maryland sued after Trump reversed the previous plan, which ended nearly 15 years of debate. The judge barred the move to the Reagan Building and the diversion of funds. The New York Times noted the ruling is likely not the end of the dispute, and the FBI continues to operate from its aging Hoover Building, which is covered in netting to prevent falling concrete.
Judge Blocks Trump's Plan to Keep FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
A federal judge in Maryland, Theodore Chuang, blocked President Donald Trump's plan to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., ruling that the decision illegally discarded the General Services Administration's (GSA) congressionally approved 2023 plan to build a new complex in Greenbelt, Maryland. Congress had required the GSA to select a suburban site outside D.C., and the Biden administration chose Greenbelt after nearly 15 years of debate. Trump attempted to reverse this by moving the FBI to the Ronald Reagan Building, prompting a lawsuit from Maryland. The judge barred the administration from moving the FBI to the Reagan Building or diverting about $1 billion in funding approved for the Greenbelt campus. The ruling is likely not the end of the dispute, and the FBI continues to operate from its aging J. Edgar Hoover Building.
Federal judge blocks Patel’s attempt to move FBI HQ to Reagan building
A federal judge blocked FBI Director Kash Patel's attempt to relocate the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., ruling that the decision violated laws governing federal site selection. Judge Theodore Chuang, an Obama appointee, sided with Maryland and Prince George's County, which had been the leading contenders for the new HQ site in Greenbelt, Maryland. The judge stated that the FBI and General Services Administration exceeded their statutory authority and ordered the restoration of plans to build in Greenbelt, though Congress has yet to give final approval. The FBI has long outgrown its current J. Edgar Hoover Building, and the site selection process has been contentious for years, with previous decisions favoring Fairfax County and then Greenbelt. Patel and the GSA had announced the Reagan Building choice in July 2025, calling it cost-effective. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown praised the ruling as a victory for congressional authority.
Federal judge blocks Patel’s attempt to move FBI HQ to Reagan building
A federal judge blocked FBI Director Kash Patel's attempt to relocate the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., ruling that the decision violated laws governing federal site selection. Judge Theodore Chuang, an Obama appointee, sided with Maryland and Prince George's County, which had been the leading contenders for the new HQ site in Greenbelt, Maryland. The judge stated that the FBI and General Services Administration exceeded their statutory authority and ordered the restoration of plans to build in Greenbelt, though Congress has not yet given final approval. The FBI has long outgrown its current J. Edgar Hoover Building and had been seeking a new site for two decades, with previous selections favoring Fairfax County and later Greenbelt. Patel and the GSA announced the Reagan Building choice in July 2025, calling it cost-effective. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown praised the ruling as a victory for congressional authority.