FBI HQ in PG!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

Lol watch and see VA dems contest Greenbelt only to have GOP move the fbi hq to Alabama

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

The House Republicans can't even agree on what pizza toppings to order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

The House Republicans can't even agree on what pizza toppings to order.

It is a guarantee that this will be investigated. A black woman over ruled a bunch of white dudes.

[Anonymous]

Lets see.

1) The Greenbelt site is cheapest and most shovel ready

2) The Greenbelt site is inside the beltway

3) The Greenbelt site has its own metro station that is boutique and barely used. It will practically be the FBI's private metro stop.

4) Good access to Montgomery County and Howard County(the best publics in the DMV) schools.

5) Being in the Richest state in the United States.

6) Better Access to the best and by far the most Private schools than Springfield which needs to cross the river to access the MD/DC privates.

7) Better access to NSA, Annapolis, Bay and Beaches.

8) a better looking area than Springfield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Lets see.

1) The Greenbelt site is cheapest and most shovel ready

2) The Greenbelt site is inside the beltway

3) The Greenbelt site has its own metro station that is boutique and barely used. It will practically be the FBI's private metro stop.

4) Good access to Montgomery County and Howard County(the best publics in the DMV) schools.

5) Being in the Richest state in the United States.

6) Better Access to the best and by far the most Private schools than Springfield which needs to cross the river to access the MD/DC privates.

7) Better access to NSA, Annapolis, Bay and Beaches.

8) a better looking area than Springfield.

And does not meet any of the FBI's preferences. Sounds like a winner!

(What a strange list. HoCo? Private school? Beaches?!?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Lets see.

1) The Greenbelt site is cheapest and most shovel ready

2) The Greenbelt site is inside the beltway

3) The Greenbelt site has its own metro station that is boutique and barely used. It will practically be the FBI's private metro stop.

4) Good access to Montgomery County and Howard County(the best publics in the DMV) schools.

5) Being in the Richest state in the United States.

6) Better Access to the best and by far the most Private schools than Springfield which needs to cross the river to access the MD/DC privates.

7) Better access to NSA, Annapolis, Bay and Beaches.

8) a better looking area than Springfield.

9) Right next to a Big Ten University with the Third highest SAT scores in the conference and the #1 Criminology graduate program in the country.

[Anonymous]

Private metro stop? Will be spy central and anyone that hates the FBI- easy to mark employees.

If it happens most people will drive in order to avoid being marked or befriended by Vladimir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

The House Republicans can't even agree on what pizza toppings to order.

It is a guarantee that this will be investigated. A black woman over ruled a bunch of white dudes.

True. The House Republicans will hold hearings about the location of the FBI HQ, while failing to pass a FY 2024 appropriations bill for the FBI, after proposing cuts to the FBI budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private metro stop? Will be spy central and anyone that hates the FBI- easy to mark employees.

If it happens most people will drive in order to avoid being marked or befriended by Vladimir.

Just like nobody ever uses the Pentagon Metro station!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private metro stop? Will be spy central and anyone that hates the FBI- easy to mark employees.

If it happens most people will drive in order to avoid being marked or befriended by Vladimir.

You mean like the Pentagon metro stop? NOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

Lol watch and see VA dems contest Greenbelt only to have GOP move the fbi hq to Alabama

that would b smart, Huntsville is very techy and good schools
much cheaper col than dmv
with technology not all government agencies need to be concentrated in one place

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private metro stop? Will be spy central and anyone that hates the FBI- easy to mark employees.

If it happens most people will drive in order to avoid being marked or befriended by Vladimir.

I don't get this. Can't Vlad photo license plates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can name call and try and put down arguments they don’t agree with, but the fact of the matter is there are legitimate questions about how GSA handled itself during this process.

I’ll be interested to see what surfaces.

- MD resident

As an employee of the Public Buildings Service, this was a closely scrutinized process, there was no corrupt practices involved, our lawyers reviewed the decision thoroughly, and the Director of the FBI does not have authority to overrule or influence the decision. This will die down in 3 or so months when public attention focuses on something more interesting than federal procurement of buildings.

-VA resident

Okay, so why change the pick to the more problematic (wetlands) site from the better-located (proximity to Quantico etc.) site? It's inexplicable.

Cost and schedule. Remember the Greenbelt site was the original one selected. The reports people are posting are merely recommendations to inform decisions by political appointees. If you have a problem with it, elect a Republican.

But no, those were not the reasons given in the final decision.

You're just trying to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Yes, those are the reasons given.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/FBI%20HQ%20Site%20Selection%20Decision.pdf

Page 3
I. OVERVIEW For the reasons set forth below, in my role as the Site Selection Authority (“SSA”), I have selected the Greenbelt site as the most advantageous location for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Suburban Headquarters (“Suburban HQ”). This Site Selection Decision documents my analysis and judgment as the SSA and constitutes the U.S. General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) final determination.

Page 37
D. Site Selection Decision I have determined that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for all of the detailed reasons set forth above. I summarize here the reasons that Greenbelt is the most advantageous site for the Government for the new Suburban HQ:
● Greenbelt is the most transit accessible site, which is favorable for daily commuting of FBI employees and ease of access for contractors, visitors, and key partners that need to work with the FBI;
● Greenbelt provides the greatest schedule certainty, which is of significant importance to this project: (i) the condition of JEH is deteriorating and has an impact on the safety of FBI employees and mission of the FBI; and (ii) the requirement to maintain JEH until it is vacated, plus project cost escalation related to schedule delay, has an impact to taxpayers;
● Greenbelt offers the greatest opportunity for the Government’s investment to positively impact the Washington region through sustainable and equitable development; and
● Greenbelt has the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

She literally said that Cost (bullet #4) and Schedule (bullet #2) were 2 of the four reasons that she decided Greenbelt was the better location.

But the Director of the FBI has indicated there was malfeasance in selecting Maryland, so there must now be an FBI investigation, meaning the project is on hold.

And Virginia will be the new site once MD is disqualified following the investigation.

You really don't know how the government works. The agencies do not get to make the decision about where they will be allocated buildings or real estate. It's like requesting a budget from Congress. POTUS can request the best or optimal budget, they can even have an OPM study that supports that they need the funding. But Congress will haggle and negotiate and end up with something completely different. Because Congress is in charge of the purse strings and they decide what appropriations are granted, regardless of whatever justification the President requests for his executive agencies.

Likewise, the FBI can request and the GSA does a study that recommends something. But the administration of the GSA does not have the follow the recommendation, and didn't in this case. But like Congress controls the purse strings, GSA controls the real estate. There is nothing that either Congress or the FBI can do about this. And even if there is an IG investigation, neither the Congressional investigation nor the IG investigation can change the decision by the GSA administrator, who signed off on the final decision.

Congress and the IG will waste time, but they cannot change this decision. It has been made and it will stay in Greenbelt. The only thing that all this does is delay when the project will start and delay the inevitable; that the FBI HQ will be built in Greenbelt as decided by the GSA.

You’re wrong. Congress can very easily change this decision by stipulating how money for a new FBI headquarters can and cannot be spent. And given how this issue has already become a political football (beyond MD v. VA), I anticipate fights ahead on Capitol Hill.

As much as you might want it, it is not “inevitable” that the HQ will be built in Greenbelt.

Not going to happen. Steny Hoyer significantly outranks both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in the Democratic leadership (he's the former Whip). He has seniority and ranking. He may not be minority whip any longer, but he still has the political clout to ensure that the Congressional investigation gets dropped before it gets anywhere. Hoyer is not going to allow the Congress to force the location to Virginia.

No matter how much Virginians want this to be changed, there isn't really a viable path to changing the decision that the GSA has made and which Hoyer agrees with.

Hoyer has no influence over the United States Senate. More importantly, he is in the minority in the House. If the House Republicans decide they want to investigate, then they will. They may have a different motivation (to try to get the HQ in Alabama) but the investigation will uncover any conflicts and severe process flaws. Greenbelt is not a done deal by any means.

Lol watch and see VA dems contest Greenbelt only to have GOP move the fbi hq to Alabama

The republican voters in Alabama do NOT want the FBI in their state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lets see.

1) The Greenbelt site is cheapest and most shovel ready

2) The Greenbelt site is inside the beltway

3) The Greenbelt site has its own metro station that is boutique and barely used. It will practically be the FBI's private metro stop.

4) Good access to Montgomery County and Howard County(the best publics in the DMV) schools.

5) Being in the Richest state in the United States.

6) Better Access to the best and by far the most Private schools than Springfield which needs to cross the river to access the MD/DC privates.

7) Better access to NSA, Annapolis, Bay and Beaches.

8) a better looking area than Springfield.

9) Right next to a Big Ten University with the Third highest SAT scores in the conference and the #1 Criminology graduate program in the country.

10) Greenbelt’s Eleanor Roosevelt HS, the town’s popular science and tech magnet high school that draws the top students from around the region.
11) Proximity to a U.S. National Park, Greenbelt Park. Perfect for camping and hiking with the family
12) The beautiful historic Greenbelt with cafes, charming art deco movie palace, and co-op market.
13) Living in beautiful historic Greenbelt, with its charming walking paths surrounded by bucolic surroundings.