WASHINGTON – Members of Alabama’s Congressional delegation said they are excited to welcome hundreds of Federal Bureau of Investigations employees to the state as part of the bureau’s efforts to move workers out of Washington.
The FBI’s presence at Redstone Arsenal is set to grow by 500 employees after new FBI Director Kash Patel told senior officials he plans to move FBI workers to Huntsville. Additionally, a thousand workers will be transferred to field offices nationwide. U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., urged Patel to fill 1,000 of the about 4,000 open FBI seats in Huntsville hours after he was confirmed to lead the law enforcement agency last week.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, said Redstone Arsenal is a great place to host more workers because of the lower cost to construct and maintain buildings.
“It’s exciting to see that,” Strong told Alabama Daily News. “It would fit in perfect with other jobs that are in Huntsville and I think it’s the right move by the FBI.”
Strong said he hasn’t had an opportunity to talk with the FBI about specifics of what’s to come but said there was communication ahead of the decision. He said he hopes to continue to tout Huntsville’s capabilities to possibly expand Marshall Space Flight Center and the Department of Defense’s operations in the area.
“I think that’s been well received at the White House,” Strong said.
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, called the move a “fantastic idea” and emphasized his desire to see the federal government decentralize outside of Washington.
“I think it’s a good idea (…) you can house people cheaper in Alabama, you can work people less expensively, they make a good living, (and) it doesn’t cost them as much to live,” Moore told ADN.
Moore said he was “cautiously optimistic” about more federal jobs coming to the state. Strong pointed to President Donald Trump’s desire to build the ‘Iron Dome for America.’ The executive order calls for the deployment and maintenance of a “missile defense shield.” Strong said he expects Huntsville to play a big part in making that happen.
“Our workforce is second to none and I think growth will come,” Strong said.
Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham, said Redstone Arsenal has plenty of room to house more workers and previously pushed to move the FBI headquarters to Huntsville from Washington.
Britt called the move “great news” and advocated for it during Patel’s confirmation hearing last month.
The FBI said it does not comment on personnel matters and could not answer when or what type of jobs would be transferred to the Alabama campus.
“Director Patel has made clear his promise to the American public that FBI agents will be in communities focused on combating violent crime,” the FBI said in a statement. “He has directed FBI leadership to implement a plan to put this promise into action.”
While Alabama Republicans tout more federal jobs coming to the state, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are working to slash federal government and its employees. Strong recognized that Musk’s manner in delivering DOGE updates has not been received well.
“I think that we can be a little bit more compassionate in the way it’s presented,” Strong told ADN.
However, the congressman said cuts are necessary to help combat the growing deficit. Strong said his district, though, will remain top of mind.
“I’m going to be fighting for North Alabama with every fiber in me,” Strong said.