UPDATE: Congress is making an urgent decision that could shape national security for generations: the future location of the FBI headquarters. As discussions heat up, the current headquarters, the Hoover Building, is widely recognized as outdated and in dire need of replacement.
The decision comes as threats from terrorists, spies, and cybercriminals escalate. Officials stress that the new headquarters must prioritize the safety of employees and secure sensitive data against evolving threats. Unfortunately, the Ronald Reagan Building, the leading candidate for relocation, is failing to meet these critical security requirements.
The vulnerabilities of the Reagan Building are not new. Following the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Office Building, security measures were heightened for federal facilities. Experts have long warned that the Reagan Building’s mixed-use design and extensive underground parking make it an easy target for attacks.
The September 11, 2001 attacks underscored the urgency for a new FBI headquarters that meets the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Level V protocols, the highest security standards for nonmilitary federal facilities. A renovation of the Reagan Building, which is over 30 years old, cannot meet these stringent requirements.
The building’s location in downtown Washington, DC, surrounded by high-rise buildings and public access points, poses permanent security risks. No retrofit can change the proximity to potential threats, including clear sightlines for hostile actors and inadequate standoff distances from blast threats. A vast one-acre glass atrium only increases the vulnerability to drone attacks and surveillance.
Moreover, the costs associated with moving to the Reagan Building are staggering. The GSA’s FY 2026 prospectus estimates around $1.4 billion for design, construction, and fit-out, but this does not account for temporary housing during construction or maintaining Level V-compliant facilities. Outdated estimates fail to consider the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats.
The Time to Act is Now: Congress must eliminate the Reagan Building from consideration and push for a purpose-built facility. The FBI needs a secure, campus-style headquarters that ensures adequate standoff distances, full perimeter control, and infrastructure that can adapt to emerging threats.
A bipartisan report issued over 23 years ago called for action following the attacks on the Murrah Building and the World Trade Center. Yet, progress has stalled. Frank Keating, former Governor of Oklahoma during the Murrah bombing, remarked, “The Murrah tragedy was a wake-up call. Now, thirty years later, it doesn’t look like any lessons were learned.”
Former officials also express concern, highlighting the inadequacies of retrofitting buildings for national security. If lawmakers are serious about maintaining the FBI’s status as a premier law enforcement and counterterrorism agency, they must advocate for a headquarters designed expressly for these purposes—not a hasty renovation of an unsuitable building.
The stakes are high, and the time to act is now. Congress must prioritize the safety of federal personnel and the integrity of national intelligence. This crucial decision will impact the FBI’s capabilities to respond to threats effectively.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
