Virginia lawmakers, frustrated by the federal government’s decision to build a new FBI headquarters in Maryland, are asking budget officials to put a hold on the project.
It’s the latest maneuver from Virginia politicians, whose bid to put the new complex in Springfield lost out to a site adjacent to the Greenbelt Metro Station in Prince George’s County. They already succeeded in getting the inspector general for the U.S. General Services Administration to review the project.
“We urge the Administration to pause efforts to advance this headquarters process, allowing for transparent and fair review,” the Virginia lawmakers wrote to the U.S. Office of Budget and Management on Monday. The letter was signed by both of Virginia’s U.S. senators and nine members of the House of Representatives.
Maryland officials responded to the Virginia letter with a statement reiterating their confidence that Greenbelt won the FBI project fair and square.
“As we have said before, we remain confident that any Inspector General evaluation will find what we know to be true: the Greenbelt site won on the merits,” the statement read. It was sent on behalf of Gov. Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, both of Maryland’s U.S. senators, and the seven Democrats in the House.
The story continues at The Baltimore Banner: Virginia lawmakers ask budget officials to put FBI move to Greenbelt on hold
WYPR and The Baltimore Banner have a joint operating agreement that allows the nonprofit organizations to work collaboratively to deliver quality journalism across the region. To learn more about the partnership, click here.