The FBI is set to permanently close its headquarters at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C., a facility it has occupied since 1975. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the decision via social media, stating that the relocation aims to provide the bureau with a safer and more modern facility. The previous plan to construct a new headquarters, projected to cost taxpayers nearly $5 billion and not completed until 2035, has been abandoned.

The Hoover Building, which opened in 1974, served as the FBI's main office after the bureau's previous location in the Department of Justice building. The FBI will move to the nearby Ronald Reagan Building, which Patel indicated also requires safety and infrastructure upgrades before the relocation can occur. While most staff will transition to the new headquarters, some personnel will be reassigned to field offices. No specific timeline for the upgrades or the closure of the Hoover Building has been provided.

This announcement reflects ongoing discussions about the adequacy of federal facilities and the implications of maintaining secure and functional government operations in the capital. Patel's decision to abandon the costly new construction plan was framed as a financial savings for taxpayers, although the FBI has not disclosed the anticipated savings from this move compared to building a new facility.

Patel's announcement follows scrutiny regarding his spending practices, including the purchase of luxury BMW vehicles for his use, which reportedly cost significantly more than traditional vehicles typically used by FBI directors. Additionally, he has faced criticism for using a taxpayer-funded FBI jet for personal travel and for directing FBI agents to provide personal security for his girlfriend. These issues raise questions about the management of resources within the bureau amid ongoing discussions about fiscal responsibility and transparency in government operations.