ICE relocates to DHS HQ, undergoes $300M DC expansion.
The Biden Administration’s $300 Million Revamp of DHS Headquarters
The Biden administration is set to make a significant investment in revamping the Department of Homeland Security’s headquarters in Washington. With funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the DHS and General Services Administration have announced three major additions to the department’s headquarters, aiming to benefit its 260,000 employees and taxpayers alike.
Improving Sustainability and Efficiency
GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan emphasized the importance of sustainable building practices in achieving the DHS’s mission. ”We are not wasting any time,” she stated. “Groundbreaking is going to be happening on all of these projects next year in 2024.”
Relocating and Expanding
As part of the revamp, DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement will move from its current office near the National Mall to the department’s main campus across the Anacostia River. This move signifies that the embattled immigration agency will remain intact, despite calls for its abolition from liberal lawmakers and activists.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will also relocate from its headquarters in northern Virginia to the DHS campus.
Enhancing Facilities and Capacity
In addition to the relocations, the government plans to construct a parking garage and security checkpoints across the campus, which holds historical significance as the former site of St. Elizabeths Hospital. These new projects will accommodate 6,500 DHS personnel, more than doubling the current number of employees at St. Elizabeths.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, “This is a win for the DHS workforce, for the capital region, and for our homeland security.”
A Long-Awaited Unification
The addition of agency headquarters on the DHS property has been a long time coming. Since its establishment 20 years ago, the DHS has aimed to bring multiple agencies together under one roof, consolidating offices scattered throughout the region.
Furthermore, these renovations will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the facilities, lower energy costs, and result in substantial savings for the department.
Overall, this announcement reflects the fulfillment of lawmakers’ intentions in the early 2000s to unite security efforts and create a single department overseeing all matters affecting the interior of the United States.
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