The state of Maryland has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration for canceling plans to build a new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, alleging the move violates congressional law and undermines billions in expected economic investment.
Governor Wes Moore announced the suit Friday, arguing that the administration’s decision to abandon the long-approved suburban site and redirect funds toward renovating the FBI’s aging Washington, D.C. headquarters was made “without transparency, justification, or legal authority.” The state says the reversal jeopardizes more than 7,000 construction and support jobs tied to the project.
Maryland officials contend the Greenbelt location was chosen through a years-long bipartisan process led by the General Services Administration (GSA), which had already allocated land and infrastructure funds. Canceling that plan, they argue, effectively nullifies federal commitments and breaches appropriations law by redirecting earmarked funds.
The administration maintains that keeping the FBI in the District is a matter of national security and cost efficiency, citing concerns about “mission continuity” and proximity to federal partners. However, state leaders and business groups say the reversal sets a troubling precedent for federal-state investment agreements.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, seeks to reinstate the project and compel the government to honor the original contract. The case could become a defining test of how far states can go to protect large-scale federal projects — and the jobs that depend on them.
