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Federal officials overstated the cost of clearing a Springfield property for a new FBI headquarters, potentially weakening Fairfax County’s bid against the site ultimately selected in Greenbelt, Maryland, according to a new inspector general’s report.

The General Services Administration’s inspector general found that the agency overestimated tenant-relocation costs for the Franconia Warehouse Complex at 6808 Loisdale Road by at least $3.3 million. The estimate became more consequential after the GSA doubled the importance of cost in its selection criteria.

The review began in late 2023 following complaints from Northern Virginia’s congressional delegation and concerns raised by the FBI. It identified several shortcomings in the selection process but found no evidence that the official who made the final decision committed an ethics violation.

The GSA selected Greenbelt on Nov. 9, 2023, after a yearslong search that also considered Springfield and Landover, Maryland. Virginia officials from both parties argued that Springfield was the better location, citing factors that included its proximity to the FBI Academy in Quantico.

Those officials also accused Maryland leaders of applying political pressure to change the selection criteria.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said the findings confirmed that the headquarters decision resulted from a deeply flawed process. He urged the GSA to address the report and reconsider its choice.

Relocation estimate remained outdated

The GSA estimated that moving existing tenants from the Springfield warehouse would cost $51.6 million. The calculation covered all 729,442 square feet of usable space, even as vacancies increased, causing the agency to overstate the expense by at least $3.3 million.

That figure originated as a rough estimate in April 2022 and was used to assess whether Springfield was a viable option. Although the agency planned a more detailed analysis, the estimate was never updated as the competition progressed.

The inspector general concluded that the GSA failed to conduct adequate due diligence or produce current relocation estimates, undermining its obligation to obtain the best value for taxpayers.

The problem grew more significant in July 2023, when the agency revised its criteria to give cost twice as much weight. The change followed concerns from Maryland officials, but the inspector general found that the GSA did not adequately justify it.

According to the report, certain expenses used in the evaluation—including differences tied to expected construction start dates and some off-site improvements—did not represent significant costs to the federal government. The costs considered by the selection panel and final decision-maker also represented only a small portion of the headquarters project’s total price.

Other selection problems identified

The revised criteria placed additional emphasis on equity and sustainability, changes that may have favored the two Maryland properties in majority-Black Prince George’s County. However, the report found that much of the equity data was presented at the county level and lacked enough detail to meaningfully distinguish Greenbelt from Landover.

The review also criticized GSA officials, including then-Administrator Robin Carnahan, for failing to preserve cellphone communications concerning the headquarters search.

The inspector general recommended requiring employees to retain messages about the FBI relocation and future projects. It also called for policies ensuring that selection criteria are adequately justified and that supporting data are relevant, accurate, complete and current.

Carnahan, who left the agency after President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, defended both the cost estimates and the revised criteria. She wrote that the findings deserved consideration but did not undermine the process’s integrity, the selection panel’s recommendation or the final Greenbelt decision.

No ethics violation found

The inspector general found no evidence of ethical misconduct by Nina Albert, the former GSA public buildings commissioner appointed as the site selection authority. That finding supported an earlier conclusion by the agency’s legal team.

Albert had faced scrutiny because she previously worked for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which owns the 61-acre Greenbelt property.

Then-FBI Director Christopher Wray opposed the Greenbelt choice and urged the GSA to restart the search. He raised concerns that Albert’s former Metro affiliation could present a conflict and noted that she departed from a three-member selection panel’s unanimous recommendation of Springfield.

Fairfax County officials continue to hope the federal government will revisit the relocation. The project’s future remains uncertain, however. Trump abandoned plans to move the headquarters out of Washington during his first term, and it is unclear whether his position has changed.