Trump's infrastructure plan, which the White House released Feb. 12, contained some additional information about a proposal to fund a new FBI headquarters.
The proposal is for $2.2 billion in funding to replace the FBI's existing building in downtown Washington D.C., a project that has been on hold, WTNH News 8 reported. Before anything can happen, though, Congress must first approve the use of the money for the project.
The General Services Administration, which is the government agency in charge of federal real estate, said it had plans to build a new headquarters for the FBI in the suburbs outside the D.C. metro area, but threw them out during the summer due to lack of funding for the project, WTNH News 8 reported. The General Services Administration said it had asked Congress for $1.4 billion for the project, but Congress only approved $523 million.
Officials from the Justice Department said on Feb. 12 that President Trump's infrastructure plan would include a request for more funding for the project, which would be combined with the funds already appropriated.
FBI Weighs In
On Feb. 12, the FBI released a statement saying that it had submitted a report to the Senate about a "nationally focused consolidation strategy for FBI headquarters," with the recommendation of a newly constructed facility on the site the FBI already occupies on Pennsylvania Ave., WTNH News 8 reported.
"The FBI believes this proposed consolidation strategy enhances mission resiliency, continuity of operations, and will provide the Bureau with the agility necessary to meet future needs," the FBI said.
A Small Piece of Things to Come
The proposed funds for a new FBI headquarters are just a small part of President Trump's $200 billion infrastructure proposal, which is set to prompt a $1.5 trillion investment over the next 10 years.
The proposed plan includes$100 billion in incentives for state and local governments; $20 billion for expanding infrastructure-focused federal loan programs; $50 billion for grants to pay for rural infrastructure initiatives; $20 billion for other "transformative programs;" and an initiative to improve and shorten the permitting and regulation process to get key infrastructure projects up and running faster than before.
