In a bold move, FBI Director Kash Patel has announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation will leave its longtime headquarters at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C., citing safety concerns and a need to redistribute the agency’s workforce. Approximately 1,500 agents will be relocated to various locations across the United States, marking a significant shift in the FBI’s operational strategy.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, set to air on May 18, 2025, Patel explained the reasoning behind the move. “This FBI is leaving the Hoover Building because this building is unsafe for our workforce,” he said. “We want the American men and women to know, if you’re going to come work at the premier law enforcement agency in the world, we’re going to give you a building that’s commensurate with that, and that’s not this place.”
The J. Edgar Hoover Building, a brutalist structure completed in 1975, has long been a symbol of the FBI’s presence in the nation’s capital. However, it has faced criticism for its deteriorating condition, with nets draped around the exterior to prevent falling concrete from endangering passersby. Patel did not specify the exact safety hazards but emphasized the need for a modern, secure facility.
The relocation plan involves moving 1,500 of the FBI’s 11,000 employees currently stationed within a 50-mile radius of Washington, D.C. Patel noted that the agency, which has a total workforce of about 38,000 when fully staffed, is overrepresented in the capital region. “A third of the crime doesn’t happen here,” he said, highlighting the need to deploy agents where they are most needed. “Every state is getting a plus-up,” he added, suggesting that the redistribution will bolster FBI presence nationwide.
This move is part of a broader effort to inspire new recruits to join the FBI. Patel believes that by sending agents to fight violent crime across the country, the agency can attract motivated individuals eager to make a difference. “We’re going to do that hard in the next three, six, nine months,” he said, indicating a swift timeline for the transition.
The decision to abandon the Hoover Building comes after years of discussion about relocating the FBI’s headquarters. The General Services Administration (GSA) has been exploring options in Maryland and Virginia for over a decade. In late 2023, a site in Greenbelt, Maryland, was selected as a potential new headquarters, with a smaller D.C. facility planned for 750 to 1,000 employees. However, the selection process faced scrutiny after a GSA inspector general report criticized the decision-making criteria and raised concerns about inaccurate cost estimates. While no conflict of interest was found, the report faulted GSA officials for not maintaining records related to the project.
The relocation plan has sparked interest amid recent FBI achievements under Patel’s leadership, including a surge in new agent applications and the disruption of a mass shooting terror plot targeting the military. As the agency prepares to leave its iconic but aging headquarters, Patel’s vision signals a new chapter for the FBI—one focused on modernization, safety, and a stronger presence across America.
