FBI Headquarters Fight Holds Up FY 26 Funding Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee started markup on the fiscal year (FY) 2026 government funding bills, reviewing three of the 12 total bills. 

The committee approved the funding bills for the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the bill funding the Legislative Branch. 

But the committee hit a snag over the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill.

The sticking point is a disagreement over where to build the FBI’s new headquarters.

The Trump Administration wants to move the FBI into the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. But Democrats say the General Services Administration (GSA) has already approved a site in Greenbelt, Maryland. 

During markup, the committee approved an amendment that would block funding for a new FBI headquarters, unless it’s located on a previously approved site. 

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) bucked party lines and joined Democrats in supporting the amendment, which passed on a 15-14 vote. 

In opening remarks, subcommittee ranking member Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), blasted the decision to move to the Reagan building. 

“No analysis done with respect to security requirements, no analysis done with respect to FBI mission requirements, no review of the underlying statute as to the purpose of the Ronald Reagan Building, no analysis of what they would do with current tenants in that building,” said Senator Van Hollen (D-MD).

Senator Van Hollen says senators are trying to schedule a briefing with the FBI to learn more about the proposed move. 

GAO Funding Cut Rejected

Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected a House proposal to cut the budget for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in half. Senators approved an $812 million budget for GAO, in line with current spending levels. 

The House version would also have prohibited GAO from using its funding to pursue civil acts for violating the impoundment act. The Trump Administration floated using impoundment, which is when the executive branch refuses to spend congressionally appropriated money, to make cuts in federal agencies. 

A coalition of 30 good-government groups and a dozen congressional experts called on Senate appropriators to block the GAO spending cuts, calling them “unwarranted and unwise.”