The FBI is officially leaving its crumbling Hoover Building and moving into the Ronald Reagan Building downtown, in a decision Trump’s administration says will save taxpayers billions while giving agents a safer, modern headquarters. It’s a move that’s already sending shockwaves through Democrats who see the shift as a political statement as much as a cost-saving measure.

FBI Director Kash Patel called the move “a new era,” noting the Reagan Building is ready-made, secure, and far more efficient than pouring more money into the Hoover’s decaying structure. The move only became possible after USAID, the foreign aid agency, was stripped of its lease and officially shuttered this week, clearing the Reagan complex for the FBI’s use.

Patel’s statement made it clear the Trump administration intends the FBI to “protect the American people and uphold the Constitution” from its new headquarters, a nod to the agency’s shift under Trump’s leadership toward refocusing on crime and national security rather than political entanglements.

The decision to relocate the FBI into the Reagan Building also highlights a stark contrast with past years of indecision and bureaucracy that delayed replacing the Hoover Building. Rather than spending billions on a new facility or endless repairs, the Trump administration seized the opportunity to take over the already existing federal space. The General Services Administration confirmed the move will avoid massive new construction costs and allow the FBI to modernize quickly.

Meanwhile, Democrats and left-leaning voices have quietly expressed frustration that the FBI is moving into a building named after Ronald Reagan, one of the Republican Party’s most iconic presidents. They’re also concerned about the optics of closing USAID—long viewed as a symbol of liberal foreign aid efforts—and turning its former headquarters over to the FBI under Trump.

USAID’s functions will now be folded into the State Department as part of broader foreign policy consolidation. Sen. Marco Rubio noted the agency’s closure was overdue, arguing the U.S. should prioritize domestic security and efficiency over endless foreign aid.

What will happen to the Hoover Building remains unclear. The concrete-heavy structure, long criticized for its decaying infrastructure, could be demolished, redeveloped, or sold off, but no formal decision has been made. Some Democrats fear the Trump administration could fast-track a sale, using the funds for border security or law enforcement priorities they oppose.

Currently, the Reagan Building houses Customs and Border Protection and other agencies, but officials say they will coordinate closely to manage the transition. No final relocation timeline has been announced, but insiders expect the FBI to start moving in within months.

Trump allies view the move as a symbol of draining bureaucratic waste while strengthening the nation’s top law enforcement agency. Critics see it as yet another move to reshape Washington’s institutions in the image of Trump’s America First agenda, ensuring the FBI’s next chapter unfolds under the watchful eyes of a Republican administration keen on accountability and reform.