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FBI Director Kash Patel announced plans to permanently shut down the J. Edgar Hoover Building, marking a major shift in the bureau’s physical footprint under the Trump administration. Patel said the move is part of a broader effort to downsize federal agencies and relocate workers outside Washington, D.C. Patel revealed the plan on Friday in a post on X, Newsmax reported.

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“December 26: Shutting down the Hoover Building,” Patel wrote. “After more than 20 years of failed attempts, we finalized a plan to permanently close the FBI’s Hoover headquarters and move the workforce into a safe, modern facility.”

Patel said the plan was developed in coordination with President Donald Trump and Congress.

“Working directly with President Trump and Congress, we accomplished what no one else could,” he added.

Patel said the previous headquarters plan would have cost taxpayers nearly $5 billion.

“When we arrived, taxpayers were about to be on the hook for nearly $5 billion for a new headquarters that wouldn’t open until 2035,” he wrote.

Patel said that plan was abandoned in favor of using an existing federal building.

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“We scrapped that plan,” Patel wrote. “Instead, we selected the already-existing Reagan Building, saving billions and allowing the transition to begin immediately with required safety and infrastructure upgrades already underway.”

Patel said most FBI headquarters personnel will relocate to the Reagan Building once upgrades are completed.

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“Once complete, most of the HQ FBI workforce will move in,” he wrote.

He said remaining personnel will be reassigned as part of a broader effort to expand field operations.

“The rest are continuing in our ongoing push to put more manpower in the field, where they will remain,” Patel said.

Patel said the decision reflects a shift in priorities toward law enforcement and national security operations.

“This decision puts resources where they belong: defending the homeland, crushing violent crime, and protecting national security,” he wrote.

Patel said the plan provides modern facilities at a significantly reduced cost.

“It delivers better tools for today’s FBI workforce at a fraction of the cost,” he added.

Patel concluded by confirming the closure is permanent.

“The Hoover Building will be shut down permanently,” he wrote.

Patel said that the bureau is going after fraud in Minnesota after a daycare was accused of stealing $4 million from taxpayers. Patel wrote a long post on X on Sunday saying that the FBI has known about fraud claims in the state for a long time and threatened to take action against those who commit them.

“The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota. However, even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide,” Patel began in a lengthy tweet.

“To date, the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID. The investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network,” Patel continued.

He added, “The case led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions. Defendants included Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, Asha Farhan Hassan, Ousman Camara, and Abdirashid Bixi Dool, each charged for roles ranging from wire fraud to money laundering and conspiracy. These criminals didn’t just engaged in historic fraud, but tried to subvert justice as well. Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others were charged for attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash. Those responsible pleaded guilty and were sentenced, including a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases.”