A report claiming funding for the FBI’s campus on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville was “wiped out,” is incorrect, according to several members of Alabama’s congressional delegation.
The New York Times published a story Friday claiming Republican lawmakers achieved a goal of cutting spending to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by “wiping out the pet project of retired Senator Richard C. Shelby.”
The FBI’s Redstone Arsenal campus in Huntsville, known as “HQ2” for its essential role in the bureau’s training and counterintelligence capabilities, was fully funded in FY2023 appropriation measures. The original and subsequent reporting about FY2024 appropriations has implied that, because there is no additional FBI construction funding included, future FBI Redstone expansion plans have been “cut.”
“This story is incorrect,” spokespersons for Britt (R-Montgomery) and Strong (R-Huntsville) said.
“Previous funds for FBI Redstone were one-time appropriations to build the FBI’s state of the art facilities in Huntsville,” they said. “The FBI has confirmed that this funding has been obligated and that this year’s funding levels reflect that additional funding was not required to complete construction.”
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Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced within the package of government spending bills, a 6% cut to the FBI, a 3% cut to the Department of Justice, and a 7% cut to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had been negotiated to make good on a House Republicans’ pledge to crack down on a weaponized federal government.
The 6% cut to the FBI was $654 million, which outlets have reported accounts in large measure from the $622 million earmark secured for the FBI facility on the Army post.
A spokesperson for Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s office also said the “spending bill passed by Congress on Friday included a budget gimmick that appeared to reduce funding for the FBI’s Redstone location, but in reality, it did not claw back funds that have already been signed into law to fund construction of the facility.”
A key aspect of recent coverage about the FBI’s Redstone expansion that holds true is the site is a legacy project of Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa), who retired in 2023 and was among the most legendary appropriators in history.
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
