Trump opposes new building for FBI after Congress approves $300 million for relocation to Maryland

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The FBI Headquarters should not be moved to a far away location, but should stay right where it is, in a new and spectacular building, in the best location in our now crime ridden and filthy dirty, graffiti scarred, Capital."

"They should be involved in bringing back D.C., not running away from it, especially the violent crime," He continued. "An important part of my platform for President is to bring back, restore, and rebuild Washington, D.C., into the “crown jewel” of our Nation. We will make it crime free and GREAT AGAIN."

"The FBI should not be fleeing for safer, yet much less convenient, environs. It should make where they are now the safest place on earth! DON’T MOVE THE FBI!" the former president concluded.

Last month, the General Services Administration announced that it had selected Greenbelt, Maryland, to move the headquarters to and away from its Washington DC location on Pennsylvania Avenue.

They said in a statement, "GSA determined Greenbelt to be the best site because it was the lowest cost to taxpayers, provided the greatest transportation access to FBI employees and visitors, and gave the government the most certainty on project delivery schedule."

Representative Matt Gaetz attempted to remove funding for the new building from the appropriations bill. However, 70 Republicans voted with Democrats to reject Gaetz's amendment 273-145.

According to Axios, the search has been in the works for several years but was paused in 2018 by then-President Trump.

In a joint statement, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Representative Steny Hoyer said, "For decades, the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover Building has failed to meet the FBI's operational needs, which has undermined our national security," and that the move was a "historic moment."