FBI director cites conditions at current HQ

“This FBI is leaving the Hoover building because this building is unsafe for our workforce,” Patel said in an interview. He emphasized the importance of providing a work environment that reflects the professionalism and prestige of the agency’s mission. He also stressed the need to place personnel where crime is most pressing, rather than concentrated heavily near the capital.

Currently, nearly 11,000 of the FBI's approximately 38,000 employees are stationed within a 50-mile radius of Washington, D.C. This concentration represents around one-third of the agency’s workforce. However, Patel pointed out that criminal activity does not follow the same distribution and that more equitable staffing is essential.

“That’s like a third of the workforce. A third of the crime doesn’t happen here,” Patel said, outlining the rationale for relocating 1,500 agents to other regions.

Nationwide redistribution of personnel set to target crime

The personnel shift will occur progressively over the next three, six, and nine months. According to Patel, every state will see an increase in FBI staff as part of this initiative. The aim is to better match law enforcement resources with actual crime hotspots across the country.

Patel believes the redistribution will encourage more Americans to pursue careers with the FBI. “Every state’s getting a plus-up,” he said. “We inspire folks in America to become intel analysts and agents and say, ‘we want to go work at the FBI because we want to go fight violent crime.’”

This action comes at a time when agency interest appears to be growing. Under Patel's leadership, the FBI has already received a record number of new agent applications within his first month as director.

Decade-long search for new HQ recalled

While the workforce is being decentralized, efforts to establish a new main facility have also advanced. The FBI and the General Services Administration (GSA) have worked for over a decade to select a new headquarters location. In late 2023, the GSA announced that Greenbelt, Maryland, had been chosen for this purpose.

The decision to select Greenbelt sparked internal friction, including concerns from then-FBI Director Christopher Wray, who highlighted potential conflicts of interest and questioned how the GSA arrived at its final decision. These issues were reviewed by oversight bodies following the announcement.

A GSA inspector general report released in February 2025 responded to these concerns. The report found that no actual conflict of interest occurred but criticized GSA processes, including changes to evaluation criteria and inaccurately presented data, as well as the lack of documentation regarding internal communications.

New satellite facility planned

In addition to the future Greenbelt site, plans for a smaller FBI facility in downtown Washington, D.C., are also underway. This new building is expected to accommodate between 750 and 1,000 employees. It would provide a limited but still notable FBI presence in the District.

The move away from a centralized headquarters model reflects a broader shift in strategy under Director Patel’s leadership. Emphasizing responsiveness to crime wherever it occurs, the agency appears committed to adjusting both its physical footprint and its human resources accordingly.

The decision to downsize the number of agents located in the capital is also part of an internal reassessment of how to best achieve national security and law enforcement objectives in today’s environment.

Wide-ranging interview set to air

A detailed conversation involving Director Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino will be broadcast this weekend on Sunday Morning Futures. The interview is expected to provide additional insights into the move, including Patel's broader leadership vision for the FBI.

Patel’s statements suggest a strong emphasis on aligning institutional infrastructure with operational purpose. He framed the headquarters change not only as necessary but symbolic of the agency’s evolving priorities.

The relocation of agents, development of new facilities, and increasing interest in FBI careers represent significant transformations currently underway at the bureau -- marking a new chapter in its ongoing mission to tackle crime across the country.