Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Move FBI Headquarters to D.C.

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang permanently blocked the Trump administration's plan to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The judge ruled that the administration illegally discarded a 2023 plan to construct a new facility in Greenbelt, Maryland, stating the move was "not in accordance with law."

The ruling follows a lawsuit by the state of Maryland and Prince George's County, which alleged the administration arbitrarily scrapped the Greenbelt site and illegally diverted over $500 million in congressional funding. Judge Chuang found that the FBI and the General Services Administration exceeded their statutory authority by abandoning a site selected from three congressionally approved options, calling the reprogramming of $555 million "arbitrary and capricious."

Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Attorney General Anthony Brown praised the decision, noting that the Greenbelt project represents a $4 billion investment and over 7,500 jobs for Prince George's County. The FBI responded by claiming the court intervened for "political reasons" and argued that the Reagan Building was a more cost-effective option, estimated at $1.6 billion compared to $2.4 billion for the Maryland site. The agency stated it would "not be deterred" by those seeking to undermine its work, and federal officials are expected to appeal the decision.