Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is calling for relocating the FBI headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Alabama — arguing that the bureau has been tainted by “improper political influence” in the nation’s capital.
Jordan has consistently been a critic of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI, calling the agencies out for being politicized and weaponized against critics of the establishment.
Jim Jordan prepares to GRILL FBI Director Wray UNDER OATH for weaponizing DOJ to spy on Conservatives and coverup for Biden Family crimes🔥 pic.twitter.com/A7WrXVepkv
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 12, 2023
In the latest escalation of his criticism of the justice system, the Ohio congressman wants to separate the FBI from the politics of Washington.
Want to drain the Swamp?
Start by moving the FBI out of Washington, D.C.
Give the agency back to Real America.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 12, 2023
In a Tuesday letter to the House Appropriations Committee, Jordan threw his support behind an effort to relocate the FBI headquarters — suggesting its existing facilities in Huntsville, Alabama, as a potential new location. The Ohio Republican argued that the Appropriations Committee and the rest of the House of Representatives need to use the “power of the purse” to “constrain out-of-control federal agencies.”
“The Committee and Select Subcommittee have received startling testimony about egregious abuses, misallocation of federal law-enforcement resources, and misconduct within the leadership ranks of the FBI,” Jordan wrote.
-Investigated parents speaking out at school board meetings
-Targeted traditional Catholics
-Spied on a presidential campaign
-Raided the home of a former president
-Censored free speech
FBI leadership is broken.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 12, 2023
“We recommend that the appropriations bills eliminate any funding for the FBI that is not absolutely essential for the agency to execute its mission, including as a starting point eliminating taxpayer funding for any new FBI headquarter facility and instead examining options for relocating the FBI’s headquarters outside of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area,” he continued. “We also recommend tying funding for the FBI to specific policy changes—such as requiring the FBI to record interviews—that will promote accountability and transparency at the FBI.”
“The Committee remains concerned about the politicization of federal law enforcement power emanating from FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.,” Jordan later added. “The centralization of FBI operations in the National Capitol Region has led to duplication of activity best left to the respective field offices, contributed to reduced autonomy in local field offices, and allowed improper political influence to taint law enforcement investigations and activity.”
The FBI is reportedly seeking to build a new headquarters outside of Washington, D.C., in the suburbs, but Jordan wants them to go further.
“None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to build a new FBI headquarters. In addition, the FBI is directed to submit an operational plan within 90 days to move the FBI Headquarters out of the National Capital Region,” Jordan wrote. “The operational plan should also consider the existing resources and infrastructure available at the FBI’s Redstone Arsenal Campus in Huntsville, AL.”
The FBI has maintained their presence at the Redstone Arsenal facility for over 50 years and has continued to expand operations at that location.
“The FBI has had a presence at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, for more than 50 years,” the FBI website states. “Today, over one thousand employees work there in various operational and enterprise capacities. The FBI Redstone Arsenal state-of-the art facilities present new opportunities to build our capabilities, create new partnerships, further our mission, and support our vision of becoming the FBI’s innovation and technology center of excellence.”
