Van Hollen Statement on Unprecedented, Partisan Committee Action on FBI Headquarters

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Republicans’ decision to override years of precedent and approve a wholly partisan prospectus for the relocation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters without the support of the Democratic members of the Committee.

“After a decades-long thorough, transparent, and competitive selection process, Greenbelt, Md. was chosen as the site of the new FBI Headquarters based on its ability to meet the mission requirements of the men and women of the Bureau – including their security needs. Yet today, after the Trump Administration has presented minimal planning and provided zero transparency, Republican members of the Environment and Public Works Committee approved on a party-line basis a prospectus with few details, no completed security plan, and an incomplete cost assessment for a new FBI Headquarters located in DC.

“The prospectus passed by Republicans today fails to address the glaring security issues presented by a headquarters located in the Ronald Reagan building on Pennsylvania Avenue. This is underscored by the prospectus’ failure to even mention Level 5 security requirements – requirements that were developed following the 9/11 attacks on our nation and were included in prior Congressional directives.

“In taking this unprecedented step to overrule the Committee’s minority in this decision, Republicans are undermining the mission and safety of the men and women of the FBI and also setting a dangerous precedent for future Committee decisions. They have become rubber stamps for a lawless president. They should be ashamed.”