The General Services Administration (GSA) plans to evaluate the process by which GSA selected Greenbelt for the new national headquarters of the FBI. GSA’s Acting Inspector General Robert Erickson will conduct the evaluation.
Following GSA’s November 8, 2023, announcement of Greenbelt’s selection (see the November 16, 2023, News Review) over Landover, Md., and Springfield, Va., FBI Director Christopher Wray and Virginia elected officials challenged the selection. Virginia’s U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly wrote to Erickson on November 15 requesting “an immediate investigation into the serious concerns raised by … Director Wray.” They cited “overwhelming evidence suggesting that the General Services Administration (GSA) administered a site selection process fouled by political considerations and alleged impropriety – one that was repeatedly curated to arrive at a predetermined outcome.”
Erickson responded November 30 that his office will immediately begin an evaluation of GSA’s selection of the site. “Our objective,” he said, “will be to assess the agency’s process and procedures for the site selection to relocate the FBI Headquarters.” His response did not say how long the evaluation may take, but did say the resulting report would be shared with the Virginia Senators and Congress. It is possible GSA will also share the report with the general public because since the November challenges GSA has a made a point of publishing site selection documents and correspondence on their website, including a General Counsel review that found the site selection to be legally sound.
Inspectors General (IGs) promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness, and address waste, fraud and abuse in their agencies, and their activities are governed by federal IG standards. So it is worth noting that although the Virginia congressional delegation requested an “investigation,” Erickson plans an “evaluation.” IG investigations address possible violations of law, regulation or policy, while evaluations examine an organization’s performance or processes or financial management. The media sometimes describes IG activity as an investigation, and politicians may demand an “investigation” for political effect.
A joint statement regarding the evaluation was released by Maryland officials including Gov. Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “GSA determined that Greenbelt offers the lowest price,” said the joint statement, “and best value to taxpayers, the easiest access to public transportation, the most schedule certainty to ensure the FBI can move to a new headquarters that meets its mission and security needs as soon as possible, and the greatest opportunity to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s equity goals. The GSA made its decision accordingly. Although some may not like that outcome, the GSA has clearly demonstrated that this process was transparent.”
It is currently unclear what delaying effect the review will create. When GSA made its Greenbelt selection announcement, they called it a final decision. At that time, GSA anticipated 42 months before beginning construction, after site purchase, congressional coordination, final environmental impact review, designs and contracting with architects and construction companies.
The Virginia delegation’s letter to Erickson said, “The GSA must pause all activities related to the relocation until the IG’s investigation is complete.” The Maryland statement began with, “Let us be perfectly clear: the new FBI headquarters project is moving forward.” Erickson’s response to the Virginia delegation did not discuss whether the relocation effort would pause or proceed.