Federal Judge Blocks Trump Plan To Shift FBI HQ To Reagan Building
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang on Monday, August 17, 2026 blocked the Trump administration's plan to move the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building and barred using Greenbelt funds.[1]
Chuang found the plan "not in accordance with law" and enjoined the administration from moving the bureau, renovating the Reagan Building for FBI use, or repurposing congressional funds.[1] Maryland's November 2025 lawsuit accused the administration of trying to "unlawfully sabotage" the 2023 Greenbelt plan and of seeking to divert more than $323 million that Congress had designated for that project.[2] The FBI sharply criticized the ruling, calling it an improper, politically motivated intervention and saying courts were undermining efforts to make government more cost-effective for taxpayers.[3] Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said the decision "cleared the path back to Greenbelt," and Gov. Wes Moore urged officials to "stop the games and get to work" on a Prince George's County headquarters.[2]
The Greenbelt site was picked in 2023 after a competition with Virginia, ending more than a decade of state and county efforts to secure an FBI headquarters in Prince George's County.[1] Reporters have also noted safety and disrepair problems at the existing J. Edgar Hoover Building, including nets installed to catch falling debris.[1] In July 2025, FBI Director Kash Patel publicly announced plans to pursue the Reagan Building, calling it the most cost-effective way to carry out the bureau's mission.[2]
Early coverage from CBS News and MS NOW centered on the legal blocking of the move and the injunction's immediate effect.[2] Later reporting, including PBS News, emphasized the political stakes by highlighting the FBI's public criticism and Maryland officials' vows to restore the Greenbelt project.[3]
The Ronald Reagan Building formerly housed USAID before that agency's consolidation into the State Department in 2025, and Customs and Border Protection later took over its lease.[2]
Show source details & analysis (4 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, August 17, 2026 U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang blocked the Trump administration’s plan to relocate the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building, finding the move “not in accordance with law” and enjoining the administration from moving the FBI, renovating the building for FBI use, or repurposing congressional funds set aside for the previously approved Greenbelt project (U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang).
- Maryland’s November 2025 lawsuit accused the administration of trying to “unlawfully sabotage” the 2023 Greenbelt plan and of attempting to divert more than $323 million that Congress had designated for that project (more than $323 million).
- The FBI sharply criticized the ruling, accusing courts of improperly intervening for political reasons and saying the decision undermines the administration’s goal of making government “more cost-effective for American taxpayers” while asserting the bureau will continue to pursue what it views as the best course for its mission (the FBI).
- Maryland officials welcomed the ruling: Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said it “cleared the path back to Greenbelt” after more than a decade of state and county efforts, and Gov. Wes Moore urged officials to “stop the games and get to work” building the FBI headquarters in Prince George’s County, with state pledges of significant funding (Anthony G. Brown).
- The Greenbelt, Maryland site was selected during the Biden administration after a competition with Virginia, and reporters noted longstanding safety and disrepair issues at the current J. Edgar Hoover Building, including nets to catch falling debris (Greenbelt site).
- The Ronald Reagan Building previously housed USAID before that agency’s consolidation into the State Department in 2025, and Customs and Border Protection later took over the Reagan Building lease—context officials cited about the building’s recent occupants (Ronald Reagan Building).
- In July 2025 FBI Director Kash Patel had publicly announced the bureau’s intention to pursue moving to the Reagan Building, calling it “the most cost-effective and resource-efficient way to carry out our mission” (Kash Patel).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Monday, August 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ruled that the Trump administration's plan to move the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building was 'not in accordance with law' and formally blocked renovating or repurposing the building for FBI use.
- Chuang's order bars the administration from repurposing funds that Congress had set aside for the previously approved Greenbelt, Maryland, FBI headquarters project.
- The PBS article includes an aggressive FBI statement criticizing the ruling as an improper, politically motivated intervention and asserting the bureau will continue pursuing what it views as the 'best course of action' for its mission.
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Attorney General Anthony Brown publicly framed the ruling as clearing 'the path back to Greenbelt' after more than a decade of state and county efforts and pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in support.
- The article reiterates that the Greenbelt, Maryland site was selected during the Biden administration after a competition with Virginia and notes ongoing safety and disrepair issues at the J. Edgar Hoover Building, including debris nets.
- The Associated Press article confirms on-the-record that Judge Theodore D. Chuang formally found the Trump administration's plan to move the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building 'not in accordance with law.'
- The ruling explicitly bars the administration from moving the FBI to the Reagan Building, renovating it for the FBI, or repurposing funds Congress had set aside for the previously approved Greenbelt, Maryland, project.
- The FBI issued a public statement criticizing the decision, saying 'This is not the first time courts have tried to undermine the administration in its goal to make government more cost-effective for American taxpayers' and claiming the court 'impermissibly intervene[d] for political reasons.'
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is quoted saying, 'Now it is time to stop the games and get to work building the world-class FBI headquarters that our public servants deserve, where it belongs: in Prince George’s County, Maryland.'
- The article reiterates that the Greenbelt site was selected during the Biden administration after an intense competition with Virginia, and notes the dilapidated condition of the existing J. Edgar Hoover Building, including protective nets to catch falling debris.
- CBS reports that the Trump administration’s plan, blocked by Judge Theodore Chuang on Monday, August 17, 2026, would have relocated the FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., which previously housed USAID before its consolidation into the State Department in 2025.
- The article specifies that Maryland’s November 2025 lawsuit alleged the Trump administration tried to 'unlawfully sabotage' the 2023 Greenbelt plan and divert more than $323 million that Congress had designated for that project.
- CBS adds that in July 2025 FBI Director Kash Patel publicly announced a decision to pursue the Reagan Building move, describing it as 'the most cost-effective and resource-efficient way to carry out our mission.'
- The article notes that Customs and Border Protection took over the Reagan Building lease after USAID’s consolidation, providing additional context on current use of the site.
- CBS quotes Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown saying the ruling 'cleared the path back to Greenbelt' after more than a decade of state and county efforts and pledged funding to secure the FBI headquarters.