Abandoning a decade-long plan to move the FBI from its deteriorating downtown D.C. headquarters wastes time and taxpayer dollars, and endangers national security, officials in Maryland say.
"I've never seen a decision handled with more mismanagement and more negligence," Sen. Chris Van Hollen said.
"This is another incredibly disappointing example of the dysfunction that has been typical of Washington, D.C. for too long, and we share the deep frustration of everyone impacted by this shortsighted decision," a spokeswoman for Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement.
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced Tuesday that the government does not have enough money to move forward on the plan to relocate the FBI to Maryland or Virginia. The Obama administration had sought $1.4 billion for the project, but Congress left it underfunded by about $882 million.
In a joint statement, Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Anthony Brown and Rep. Steny Hoyer -- all Democrats -- called the GSA's decision wasteful and urged the president to include funding for the move in his budget.
“Canceling the current request for proposals for a fully consolidated FBI headquarters puts America’s national security at risk. The Hoover Building is crumbling around the FBI," the statement said. "It is unfathomable that the Trump Administration would fail to move forward on a secure headquarters for the FBI workforce that serves on the front lines of our nation’s law enforcement and counter terrorism efforts."
Pulling the plug on the plan "is a waste of hundreds of millions of federal, state and local taxpayer dollars," the statement continued.
Local governments in both Maryland and Virginia were vying for the new headquarters, which was expected to drive economic growth.
"I thought we were turning a corner," Maryland resident Cliff Holly said. "I still think we're turning a corner. It's just a disappointment."
