Norton Says $400 Million for St. Elizabeths DHS Campus in Trump’s Budget Shows Completion of Largest Federal Construction Project is in Sight

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that she was grateful that President Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget (for next year) provided $400 million for the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters at St. Elizabeths in Ward 8, demonstrating the administration's understanding that "this project has gone too far to stop now." The budget provides $229 million to construct a building for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is currently housed under several different leases throughout the national capital region. The budget also provides an additional $171 million in the DHS budget to prepare the FEMA building for occupation. Norton has already secured the funding necessary to complete the Center Building project, which will serve as the offices for the DHS Secretary and their 700-person staff. Today at an Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, she requested that the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) provide the committee with an updated timeline of the project.

"This latest funding for DHS consolidation at St. Elizabeths will save millions of taxpayer dollars and continue to provide construction job opportunities here," Norton said. "Notwithstanding the many cuts in the President's budget, I believe its recommendation on funding a FEMA building will encourage the appropriators to continue to fully fund consolidation to complete this important security project—a win for the federal government, as well as for the District of Columbia. I am continuing to work with GSA to ensure that jobs at St. Elizabeths are available to D.C. residents."