A new FBI headquarters has been scrapped, and the G-men and the General Services Administration are blaming a budget shortfall. Others say putting the new building where sanctuary lawlessness prevails is the real reason.
The new building and its location in Prince George's County in Maryland was a pet project of former President Barack Obama and federal, state and local-level Democrats, according to The Washington Post.
"GSA and FBI previously have stated that full funding is crucial for the government to make a contract award," said a GSA-FBI joint statement on Tuesday. "The fiscal year 2017 budget request included $1.4 billion for this project; however, the $523 million appropriated in 2017 leaves an $882 million funding gap."
"Moving forward without full funding puts the government at risk for cost escalations and the potential reduction in value of the J. Edgar Hoover property that developers were to receive as part of this procurement. The cancellation of the project does not lessen the need for a new FBI headquarters."
However, some conservatives hailed the decision for a different reason, pointing out its location in Prince George's County where state and local officials resist helping deport illegal immigrants, acording to the Washington Times.
"When you promote lawlessness, you don't get rewarded," activist Sue Payne told the Times. "The Obama administration had no problem with lawlessness, no problem rewarding lawlessness. The Trump administration is not going to do that."
The planned complex would have consolidated the FBI employees in one location, something that is not possible now at its present Pennsylvania Avenue location, which houses less than half of the agency's 11,000 employees, said the Times.
Four Maryland legislators – U.S. senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and U.S. representatives Steny Hoyer and Anthony G. Brown, all Democrats – issued a joint statement to complain about the end to the plans.
"Canceling the current request for proposals for a fully consolidated FBI headquarters puts America's national security at risk," said the lawmakers. "The Hoover Building is crumbling around the FBI. It is unfathomable that the Trump Administration would fail to move forward on a secure headquarters for the FBI workforce that serves on the front lines of our nation's law enforcement and counter terrorism efforts."
"Congress has spoken very clearly on multiple occasions that it intends to fully fund the consolidated FBI project. The State of Maryland and Prince George's County have invested immense resources and time into this project."