A coronavirus relief package unveiled Monday night by Senate Republicans includes nearly $ 2 billion in funding for the Justice Department to build a new FBI building.
The funding, included in a 177-page appropriation section of the package, would provide $ 1.75 billion for “the design and construction of a Washington, DC headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” according to the text of the legislation.
The decision to include funds for a new FBI building in Washington, DC comes when the Trump administration has lobbied to keep the new headquarters in Washington, DC. Before the Trump administration, the new headquarters was expected to be built in a DC suburb.
Republicans distanced themselves from including the money in their coronavirus relief package.
At first asked about it, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell White House, Republican Senate race to finalize coronavirus package ahead of Monday deployment Congress prepares for messy COVID-19 talks about tight deadline AFSCME launches announcement asking for billions in aid aid for local governments MORE (R-Ky.) He asked if the funds were in the account. A staff member then indicated that this was the case.
When asked a second time about funding, the Republican Senate leader told reporters to ask the administration “why they instituted that to be included.”
“Well, regarding that proposal, obviously we had to reach an agreement with the administration to start. And they will have to answer the question of why they insisted on that provision,” he said.
When asked about FBI funding, Shelby noted that it was a request from the administration.
“Well that’s a good question,” Shelby added, asking how funding from the FBI building related to the coronavirus. “There are probably a lot of things … that you may have to stretch and wink at some of.”
The Justice Department inspector general said last year that he would investigate the decision to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, DC
“The OIG is initiating a review that will evaluate the Justice Department and FBI planning for a future FBI headquarters,” Inspector General Michael Horowitz wrote in a letter to the chairmen of House of Representatives committees.
Democrats have argued that the decision was sparked by Trump’s concern that the current FBI building could become a hotel and offer competition to the Trump Hotel in downtown DC.
“More than 150,000 Americans have died from coronaviruses, millions are unemployed, state and local governments are struggling to stay afloat, and Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump
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