FBI Headquarters: Why the Reagan Building Poses a National Security Risk

Congress is actively considering the future of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s headquarters, with the Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., emerging as the leading candidate for relocation. The decision, however, is drawing scrutiny from security experts who argue the building’s existing design and location pose unacceptable risks, echoing concerns raised after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the 2001 September 11th attacks.

The current FBI headquarters, the J. Edgar Hoover Building, is widely acknowledged as outdated and inadequate for modern security needs. A move is generally agreed upon, but the choice of the Reagan Building – a mixed-apply complex originally designed for international trade and events – is prompting warnings that the new location will fail to meet the highest security standards, known as Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Level V protocols.

Security consultants have, for over two decades, highlighted vulnerabilities within the Reagan Building’s sprawling 11-acre campus. These concerns center on the building’s open architecture, including a one-acre glass atrium roof and skylights, as well as its extensive underground parking garage and connectivity to public spaces. These features, critics argue, are fundamentally incompatible with the stringent requirements of Level V security.

The building’s location in the densely populated downtown core of Washington, D.C., further exacerbates security challenges. Proximity to landmarks such as the Wilson Building, the Department of Commerce, the Willard Hotel, and Freedom Plaza, along with its adjacency to 14th Street and the White House, creates a complex security environment. Nearby high-rise buildings offer potential vantage points for surveillance or attacks.

“The Reagan Building is a quasi-public building in the heart of downtown Washington, DC, designed as a center for international events and public use,” a security assessment states. “Its architecture is antithetical to Level V due to features such as a one-acre glass atrium roof, famed sky lights, and open access to surrounding buildings and Metro.”

Beyond physical security, concerns extend to the building’s ability to support the robust and redundant infrastructure required for a national security headquarters. Specifically, the Reagan Building may lack the capacity for a separate utility plant and multiple independent grid connections, essential for maintaining operational continuity during emergencies.

The General Services Administration’s (GSA) fiscal year 2026 prospectus estimates the cost of design, construction, and FBI fit-out at roughly $1.4 billion. However, this estimate is facing criticism for potentially undercounting the total expense. The GSA’s projections do not fully account for costs associated with temporary housing during construction, maintaining Level V-compliant interim facilities, or the possibility of needing additional leased space if full consolidation within the Reagan Building’s footprint proves impossible.

Frank Keating, who served as Oklahoma’s Governor during the 1995 Murrah Federal Building bombing, recently expressed his concern, stating, “The Murrah tragedy was a wake-up call. Now, thirty years later it doesn’t appear like any lessons were learned.”

Advocates for a purpose-built headquarters argue that a campus-style facility, with adequate standoff distance, full perimeter control, and redundant infrastructure, is essential to address the evolving threats faced by the FBI. A bipartisan report issued over 23 years ago, following the Murrah Building and World Trade Center attacks, reached similar conclusions, yet a new headquarters has not materialized.

As of February 28, 2026, Congress continues to debate the merits of the Reagan Building proposal, with no final decision reached. The debate highlights the tension between cost considerations and the paramount need to ensure the safety and security of the FBI’s personnel, data, and operations.