Van Hollen Statement on Partisan Reversal by Appropriations Committee Republicans on FBI Headquarters

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS), released the following statement on the Appropriations Committee’s partisan reversal on the FBI headquarters. On Tuesday, Senator Van Hollen, notified Attorney General Bondi of his objection to the reprogramming of funds for the FBI to move to the Ronald Reagan Building. Approval from the Appropriations Subcommittee of jurisdiction is typically provided before the Administration proceeds with a reprogramming request and has previously been respected by the executive branch. 

“Just over two weeks ago, the Trump Administration notified the Congress of its intent to poach funding intended for the new, competitively-selected FBI Headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, in order to permanently relocate the Bureau within the Ronald Reagan Building. This unauthorized use of funds is directly at odds with what has been passed by the Congress on a bipartisan basis and sets a dangerous precedent for executive branch overreach into Congress’s power of the purse. The Administration has also not provided any information around the total cost of the project or how it will meet the Bureau’s security needs.

“Last week, the Appropriations Committee passed my amendment on a bipartisan basis to prohibit the Administration from using these funds for any purpose other than the relocation of the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt, Maryland. But instead of moving forward on our legislation, the majority chose to grind our entire CJS bill to a halt until that bipartisan effort could be undone.

“Not only is this reversal bad for the men and women of the FBI – who deserve a safe and secure headquarters – it also represents everything the American people have come to distrust about our political process. How should Americans have faith in our legislating when a bipartisan amendment is what derails a bill – and the only solution to get it back on track is a partisan vote? It’s backwards, plain and simple.

“Today Senate Republicans showed once again that that they will bow to any Trump demand, but their capitulation will not stand. They have put obedience to Trump above the security and welfare of the men and women of the FBI. But let me be clear: this fight is far from over. We know this project will have additional costs, and the Congress will not support and sustain this abuse of power. Should the FBI ignore the objection to this reprogramming and attempt to move forward, Kash Patel shouldn’t get comfortable in his new office.”