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Tour the FBI Building in Washington DC

This post is about how to visit and take a tour of the FBI Experience at the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC.

We include tips on how to plan your visit, and what you will see. 

• How to Book a Tour
• Getting Here
• FBI Experience Museum
• About the Building
• Things to Do in DC

Can I Tour the FBI Building Headquarters?

The FBI building is technically closed to the public. However, with advance planning and help from your Congressperson, you can still tour the FBI Education Center.

Originally created as a way to introduce new employees and other government officials to the workings of the FBI, in 2014, it was opened to the public.

Like arranging a visit to the White House , you must go through your Congressperson. The tours can be scheduled for business days 9 am - 3 pm. The building is closed on federal holidays.

(You can find out who you Member of Congress is here ). 

This must be done no less than four weeks in advance. All applicants for a tour of the FBI Education Center will be vetted and subject to a background check. You will need to provide your:

• date of birth
• social security number

For groups of 20 or more, you can submit a request directly here. Don't try to request a tour with this link if you have less than 20 people, as it will be ignored.

FBI Tours are open to US citizens and green card holders only.

If you are cleared to enter the FBI Building, you will be notified two weeks prior to your confirmed date.

If you are granted a tour, plan on 2 hours for the tour itself and arriving 15 minutes early. The tours operate on weekdays during normal business hours.

SECURITY AT THE FBI HEADQUARTERS

There is no storage at the FBI Headquarters. If you're looking for bag storage before your tour, check out our post on luggage storage in DC .

The following items are  strictly prohibited  and may  not  be brought into FBI Headquarters: 

• Backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs, briefcases, luggage, computer and camera bags, or bags and purses larger than a clutch
• Point-and-shoot cameras, SLR cameras, or video recorders; cell phone cameras are permitted but must be on airplane mode during the visit.
• Food, beverages, tobacco products, personal grooming items (e.g. makeup, lotion, etc.)
• Any pointed objects
• Aerosol containers
• Guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or any knives.

Can you take photos on the FBI Tour?

Yes! You may take photos inside the FBI Experience exhibit only. You will not be able to take photographs at all in the screening process

HOW TO GET HERE

Conveniently located downtown Washington, DC ( map ), it is very easy to get to the FBI Building.

Metro: The FBI Building is about a five-minute walk from four different Metro stations. Read our guide on how to use the DC Metro (subway).

• Federal Triangle: Blue/Orange/Silver
• Archives/Navy Memorial: Yellow/Green
• Chinatown: Red/Yellow/Green
• Metro Center: Blue/Orange/Silver

It is also on Pennsylvania Ave NW, and a direct walk from the White House or the US Capitol Building , an easy walk from the Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall, and you can see it from Ford's Theatre .

Parking: You will find street parking in the area surrounding the FBI Building, just not directly in front of the building. If you need a parking garage, the closest is on 10th St NW between E and F Streets NW, just next to Ford's Theatre.  

We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservation app.

To reserve your parking spot, visit the SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.

New to SpotHero? Click here to download the SpotHero app.

The FBI Experience Museum

Once through security, an escort takes you to another secure area, across the courtyard (they have workout equipment, an outdoor running track, tables, etc.) and into the FBI Experience Museum.

Your escort gives you an intro but then the museum is self-guided.

Visitor services reps are stationed throughout to answer questions - all are FBI or former FBI agents or employees and are very knowledgeable.

Some of the highlights of the tour are:

In the exhibit on surveillance, find the hidden camera in the painting - it’s the period in the signature!

You can check out the desk of infamous FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who the headquarters building is named for.

There are also some artifacts on display that take your breath away, like this case with ephemera collected from the World Trade Center on 9/11.

The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Headquarters

The FBI moved into this building in 1975 from the Department of Justice building across the street.

It was immediately criticized and remains unloved by most to this day. In fact, the FBI will be moving soon - the building has reached the end of its lifespan.

It is not yet public knowledge where the FBI Headquarters will relocate or what will happen to this building or plot of land.

The FBI wanted a building that was bomb-proof for the first few levels and had secured access points throughout.

The design firm of Murphy & Associates were hired to design the structure.

The building includes theaters, classrooms, auditoriums and three levels below ground, as well as:

• An automobile repair shop
• A two-story basketball court
• Cryptographic vault
• Developing laboratories for both still photography and motion pictures
• Exercise rooms
• A film library
• A firing range
• 80,000 square feet (7,400 m 2 ) of laboratory space
• A medical clinic
• A printing plant
• A test pattern and ballistics range

Despite its immense size, not all of the FBI's holdings are kept inside the Hoover Building in downtown Washington DC.

The FBI Laboratory is located in Quantico, Virginia at Marine Base Quantico. It is one of the largest crime labs in the world.

FBI Building Flags

As you walk along the Pennsylvania Ave side of the building, you'll notice many American flags along the FBI Building.

Look closely, they are each different. Starting at 10th St NW, you'll notice 10 different flags flanked by our current 50-star flag.

• The Flag of 1777 , which had no official arrangement for the 13 stars. It was flown by John Paul Jones on the USS Ranger and was the first American flag to be recognized by a foreign power.
• The Betsy Ross Flag , 13 stars, designed by George Washington, Betsy Ross, and Francis Hopkinson. Although rarely used, it was adopted by Congress on June 14, 1777--the official date of today's Flag Day.
• The Bennington Flag , 13 six-pointed stars, allegedly flown August 16, 1777, over military stores at the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, when the Vermont militia beat back a superior British force.
• The Star Spangled Banner , 15 stars and 15 stripes, immortalized by Francis Scott Key in our National Anthem during the bombardment of Ft. McHenry, Maryland, in September 13, 1814.
• The Flag of 1818 , 20 stars, commissioned by a Congressional Flag Act that returned the design to 13 stripes and stipulated that stars be added for each new state.
• The Great Star Flag , 20 stars, designed by Captain Samuel Chester Reid, U.S. Navy, at the request of New York Congressman Peter Wendover and flown over the U.S. Capitol on April 13, 1818.
• The Lincoln Flag , 34 stars, raised by President Lincoln on February 22, 1861, over Philadelphia's Independence Hall to send a message to Southern states, which were preparing to secede from the Union.
• The Iwo Jima Flag , 48 stars, which was commissioned in 1912 but came to symbolize our Nation on February 19, 1945, when U.S. Marines raised it on Mount Suribachi after fearful fighting in World War II's Pacific campaign.
• The 49-Star Flag , commissioned in 1959 when Alaska achieved full Statehood. It flew for only one year, until July 4, 1960, after Hawaii achieved its Statehood and when today's 50-star flag became official.

Related Content:

• How to Get Tickets to the Washington Monument
• How to Get Tickets to the Holocaust Museum
• How to Visit the White House on a Public Tour
• Can I tour the Pentagon?
• Free Tours by Foot

Check out our DC Tourism Guide , with budget advice, travel guides, and information about local Washington DC attractions, including Free Things to Do in DC .

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How to Tour the FBI Experience

quickwhittravel

Updated July 7, 2020.

It’s Museum Monday! This week I’m letting you in on one of D.C.’s best kept tour secrets: Did you know you can visit the FBI Headquarters? You can! They can (and have) shut down the tour whenever they deem necessary, but they recently reinstated the tour late last year. Visit while you can because I’m about to tell you how! Before you get started, here is what to expect.

Know Before You Go

• You must inquire about your tour between five months to three weeks prior to your trip or desired tour date. Do not ask for a tour any sooner than three weeks prior.  This is because every visitor has to go through a background check for security purposes.
• You must book your tour through your Congressperson’s office. If you are inquiring for a group of 20 or more, you must complete a group request form .
• FBI Headquarters is located at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 9th and 10th streets; however, the FBI Experience entrance is around the back on E Street between 9th and 10th streets.
• The closest Metro stations are Metro Center on the Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines; or Penn Quarter/Navy Memorial on the Yellow and Green Lines. Not so sure about taking the Metro? Check out my guide here:  DC’s Metro System: A Guide
• The tour is self-guided and should last 60-90 minutes.
• Tours are offered Monday-Friday at 9:00am, 10:30am, noon, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm, except federal holidays.
• Cell phones and other electronics  must be put in airplane mode.
• Photos are permitted, but  no video recording is permitted.
• Your only opportunity to visit a gift shop will be before your tour begins; you will not have another opportunity to visit a gift shop after the tour.

Related: D.C. Tours to Request in Advance

How to request your tour, 1. visit the fbi website.

This will answer any questions you have and start your process of requesting your tour!

2. Contact Your Congressperson

At the FBI website you will find a link to find your Congresspeople so you can contact them. Make sure you do this  at least four weeks in advance! You will need to provide your name, date of birth, social security number, whether you are a citizen or not, country of citizenship, gender, and city and state of citizenship (or city where you are staying if you are from another country).

3. Wait for Confirmation

Sorry, this is like the White House tour in that you won’t know if you’re cleared until two weeks before your tour date . Be on the lookout exactly two weeks prior to your requested date! If you don’t receive an e-mail, you did not get approved for the tour. You can contact your Congressperson’s office to confirm just in case, but if you didn’t get an e-mail confirmation, odds are you didn’t get in. It may not be because you did anything wrong, so don’t worry about it. Just try again on another trip to D.C.!

4. Prepare for Your Tour

There are a few things to note before your tour date:

• You must arrive no less than 25 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time.
• You  must bring a hardcopy of your confirmation e-mail and your photo ID with you to be admitted for your tour.
• Public transportation is highly encouraged as parking near the FBI Building is very limited. The closest metro stations are Federal Triangle on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines; and Archives/Navy Memorial on the Yellow and Green lines. (Map provided in the confirmation e-mail.)

Be sure to pay attention to the prohibited items list:

• No backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs, briefcases, luggage, computer and camera bags, or bags or purses larger than a clutch
• No point-and-shoot cameras, SLR cameras, or video recorders
• Cell phone photography is permitted, but all cell phones must be in airplane mode
• No strollers
• No food, beverages, tobacco products, personal grooming items (e.g. makeup, lotion, etc.)
• No pointed objects
• No aerosol containers (including mace)
• No guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or any knives

You can leave these items at home, in your car, at your hotel, or store them at Union Station or the Natural History Museum storage facilities. To be clear, the items in the last bullet above are  never permitted anywhere in D.C.

More here: D.C. Tours You Never Knew You Could Take

The fbi experience.

The FBI Tour was one of the most popular in D.C. before 9/11. After 9/11, all tours ceased, all over D.C. Other tours started back up over the years, but the FBI Experience just re-opened in July 2017.

The FBI Experience Tour was excellent. Truly, I was impressed with the flow, the material, and how many interactives they have there! This tour is fantastic for kids and adults alike, and I can definitely recommend it! Here’s a quick run-down of what you can expect on your tour:

• The whole experience, from check-in to departure, took us 2.5 hours. Plan for around that much time for yourself and your group.
• After checking in and going through security, you will have a chance to visit the gift shop and the restrooms prior to your tour.
• At your tour time, FBI employees will meet you at the entrance to the museum for a security briefing. They will go over their rules and policies, tell you where you can and cannot take photos, and answer any questions you may have before you start.
• Once inside the 13,000 square foot museum (that is not a typo), you’ll find out what training is like at Quantico for all types of FBI employment, encounter interactive “crime scenes,” and my favorite part was the mock hotel room where you get to find hidden cameras! Neither my friend Kelly nor I could find them on our own–one of the FBI employees had to point them out to us!
• Also, check out this cool spy gear! This is such an inconspicuous item, but that means it can stay put for months or even years without anyone knowing!

• Continuing through the museum, you’ll find displays of FBI uniforms and protective gear, learn about the different branches (like the HRT, or Hostage Rescue Team), and get the whole story on some of the most notorious criminals!
• But the coolest part? The firing range! Sorry, no photos, but you can sit and watch the agents at target practice during your tour. Don’t worry! You’ll be sitting behind bullet-proof glass  and sitting behind them, not in front, so don’t worry about stray bullets.
• There is also a very moving exhibit about 9/11 and how that event took the FBI from a  reactive organization to a  proactive organization.
• The last exhibit you’ll see before you leave is about the Boston Marathon Bombing. They have the boat where one of the bombers was found.

Are you ready for an FBI Experience? I hope this post helps get the ball rolling!

For more D.C. resources for your trip, check out my dedicated Washington, D.C. Page !

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3 responses to “how to tour the fbi experience”.

[…] Once one of the “Big 3” tours in D.C., FBI tours ceased entirely after 9/11. They have only just restarted as of July 2017, and I can attest it is one of the best museums in town! This can be arranged through your congresspeople, and should be booked no less than two weeks in advance. However, I recommend requesting the tour two months in advance, and be flexible with the dates and times you’re available. For more, check out How to Tour the FBI Experience. […]

We were lucky and an analyst came down and talked to us. He gave us some behind the scenes information on some cases, it made the tour even more amazing

Wow! That’s so awesome!

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The FBI Experience

935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

202-324-3000

The FBI Experience is a self-guided tour at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Open to the public, the tour features interactive multimedia exhibits, content, and artifacts — including a number of items from notable cases on display for the very first time — that help illustrate the importance of the Bureau’s work to protect the nation.

Visitors to the FBI Experience will learn how the Bureau operates in the field, at headquarters, and within communities across the country. They will also gain a rare look inside the organization’s investigative divisions, laboratory resources, professional occupations, and more.

Admission:   Visits to the FBI Experience must be scheduled no later than four weeks in advance of your desired visit date.

Visit the FBI Experience website for more information.

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Request a visitor’s guide, fbi academy.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy’s law enforcement training and research center occupies 547 acres within Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William, VA.  The FBI Academy was founded in 1972 and is a full-service training facility that includes 24 classrooms, two dorms, firing ranges and the FBI Library which maintains current law enforcement information from around the world.

One of the main missions of the FBI Academy is to train new agents. Training ensures that each new agent has the knowledge, skills, commitment and fortitude to serve the FBI. The Academy also provides ongoing training to a variety of other groups including: intelligence analysts, special agents, law enforcement officers, international partners, etc.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Tours and Information

The FBI Experience

The FBI Experience is a self-guided tour at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Open to the public, the tour features interactive multimedia exhibits, content, and artifacts—including a number of items from notable cases on display for the very first time—that help illustrate the importance of the Bureau's work to protect the nation.

The FBI tour became the public face of the FBI in 1937, when FBI Headquarters was located in the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C. After the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building opened in 1975, the tour quickly became a highlight for visitors to the nation's capital. However, due to security concerns following the events of September 11, 2001, the tour was closed.

Repurposing artifacts and information from the old tour, the FBI opened the Education Center in 2008 to provide an opportunity for new employees and law enforcement partners to learn more about the Bureau and its work. In 2014, the FBI launched a pilot program that opened the Education Center to the public. This allowed the Bureau the opportunity to tell its story—including its history, capabilities, and ideas for the future—to a wider audience.

The Education Center closed in 2016 so the FBI could make way for a new, revitalized tour that explores the FBI and its mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. The FBI Experience opened its doors to the American people on July 10, 2017 and has quickly become a popular site for visitors to Washington, D.C.

Visitors to The FBI Experience will learn how the Bureau operates in the field, at Headquarters, and within communities across the country. They will also gain a rare look inside the organization's investigative divisions, laboratory resources, professional occupations, and more. The rich experience tells the story of the FBI's internal operations and history, as well as how its cooperation with local, state, federal, and international partners helps further its unique role in national security and law enforcement.

What do you need to know?

All visitors to The FBI Experience must be U.S. citizens or valid green card holders (permanent residents).

Operating hours are Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays.

You can schedule a visit to The FBI Experience up to five months in advance but no later than four weeks prior to the desired visit date.

All visitors age 16 and older must present a government-issued photo ID upon entrance. School IDs will also be accepted.

No storage facilities are available at FBI Headquarters. Individuals who arrive with prohibited items will not be permitted to enter.

Prohibited Items:  Bags larger than 8 ½" x 11"  Point-and-shoot cameras, SLR cameras, video recorders, and iPads  Strollers  Food or beverages of any kind  Tobacco products  Aerosol containers  Guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, knives, or any pointed objects  Permitted Items:  Wallets, cell phones, car keys, and umbrellas  Purses and bags that are sized 8 ½" x 11" or smaller  Any items required for medical purposes (e.g. wheelchairs, electric scooters, glucose tablets, EpiPens, etc.)

How do I get scheduled for a tour?

Click here to visit the official Federal Bureau of Investigation's website.

Can I Tour FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC?

Yes, you can tour the fbi education center, but visits require up to a month of advanced notice..

Seeing the J. Edgar Hoover Building, or FBI HQ (as some in the know might call it), is a pretty great way to experience the increasingly important work the FBI does to protect this city – and this country.

You must arrange your visit through your Congressional office. Visit this website to find out the name and contact information for your Congressional representative. The FBI requires up to a month for advance notice from Congressional offices prior to your visit; this is because the FBI will perform a security check on all visitors. The visit itself will take about two hours.

The FBI Headquarters  is located between 9th and 10th Streets NW. The closest Metro subway stops are Federal Triangle on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines, Gallery Place/Chinatown and Metro Center on the Red Line, and Archives/Navy Memorial on the Yellow and Green lines.

Matt C via Flickr

More on the FBI Building and Tour

The tour of the FBI is actually one of the oldest ones around. It started in 1937, when headquarters was in the Department of Justice building. In 1975, the FBI moved to its current location, the J. Edgar Hoover Building, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

After Sept. 11, the tour closed for security reasons. Never fear, sleuths of all ages. It’s now back open and, we’d say, better than ever. The tour was modernized and updated in 2008, as the FBI created a full-fledged Education Center to assist in teaching the public the importance and central role of the FBI in law enforcement and national security.

But what does the FBI actually do?

Surely, you’ll learn just a bit more about that on the tour, but we can clue you in on a couple things. The FBI’s mission is to protect the United States from internal and external threats, whether clear and imminently dangerous, or more metaphysical and long-term, all with the goal of improving the security of our nation. The FBI has grown and changed since its inception, now incorporating both intelligence and law enforcement in its mandate. That means it works to uphold local and national laws, but also investigate those hard-to-define threats. And, OK, since you probably aren’t a special agent, we can tell you some of the things these important people, stationed all over the world, look into: domestic and international terrorism, counterintelligence, cyberwarfare, corruption, civil rights, organized crime (the “mob”), white-collar crime and more.

There are so many great tours and sightseeing opportunities in Washington, DC. Discover your next tour adventure .

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• Mission Statement
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• Online Renewal and New Member Sign-up
• Graduation Special

Alumni Association DC Trip 2023

December 4, 2023 (monday) - december 8, 2023 (friday), contact information:.

Registration Is Due May 31, 2023

The Washington, D.C. Trip Is Back For 2023!

The FBI Portland Citizens Academy Alumni Association is excited to announce that, in conjunction with the FBI Portland office, the Alumni trip Washington, D.C. is back for 2023!

The trip is scheduled for December 4 (Monday) through December 8 (Friday) and is open to alumni members and their adult guests 18 years of age or older, and all guest must pass a basic background check.

December 3 (Sunday) is the preferred travel day to arrive in Washington, D.C. and either December 8 (Friday) or December 9 (Saturday) are the recommended travel days to return home.

Those who want to reduce the length of the trip can do so; however the required events are anticipated to be Tuesday (FBI HQ) and Wednesday (FBI Academy at Quantico).

This is an incredible and unique opportunity. Included are exclusive tours of the FBI Headquarters and of the FBI Academy at Quantico. The Quantico tour includes Hogan’s Alley, the firearms ranges, the FBI Laboratory and the Tactical Emergency Vehicle Operations Center (TEVOC) among other interesting sites!

Be prepared to walk several miles on the Quantico tour, indoors and outdoors through various terrain, and dress appropriately for the cold December weather.

Tours may include the following:

• The Pentagon
• Smithsonian Museums
• Holocaust Museum
• U.S. Capitol
• Tour of the D.C. Monuments
• Arlington National Cemetery

Note: There is a direct Alaska Airlines flight each day, each way, leaving Portland about 10:00 am and leaving DCA/Ronald Regan National Airport at about 6:00 pm. This means that traveling Sunday gets you in early enough on Sunday evening to be ready to go Monday morning. Going home, you can do activities most of the day before heading to the airport late on Friday afternoon if you would like to limit hotel costs.

Hotel Options

Attendees are responsible for booking their hotel. Here are some options near FBI Headquarters. There are many other options both in the area around HQ and further out of the immediate area (Alexandria, Arlington, etc.) that may be less expensive, but they will require a metro ride to HQ.

• Kimton Hotel Monaco (Kind of fancy and really close to HQ)
• JW Marriott (For the Marriott people; fancy and under 5 min walk to HQ)
• Marriott Metro Center (5 min walk to HQ)
• Grand Hyatt Washington (5 min walk to HQ)
• The Willard (Fancy but sometimes can get off season rates... 7 min walk, closest option to White House)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We need a minimum of 25 people and if the minimum of attendees is not reached the trip will be at risk of having to cancel.

Alumni members must be current with their 2023 Annual Membership dues to attend this trip. We will check to confirm if you are current with your dues. If you are not current with your dues, we will contact you and ask you to pay your dues for 2023. If you are not sure if you have or have not paid your dues, please email [hidden email] and we will check this for you.

A $100 per person non-refundable deposit is required to attend this trip, which will be used by the FBI Portland CAAA to purchase some of the non-FBI tour tickets as required. Alumni members are responsible for their own airfare transportation and hotel reservations as well as food costs.

To register, complete the Registration/Disclosure form and pay the deposit. See below on where to send the form and how to pay your deposit. The Registration/Disclosure form without the deposit, or vice versa, will not save your spot for the trip.

• Washington DC Trip Fee - 1 Person ($100)
• Washington DC Trip Fee - 2 People ($200)

Registration is due by May 31, 2023.

Those who register will be told when we have met our attendance threshold so you may purchase your airline tickets at that time. We make every effort to provide the tours listed; however circumstances outside of our control sometimes force us to make changes to the itinerary.

Email you Registration/Disclosure form to Isabella Crepeaux at [hidden email] or mail it via USPS to:

FBI Portland Division Washington, D.C. Trip Attn: Isabella Crepeaux 9101 NE Cascades Parkway Portland, OR 97220

The deposit can be paid online with the Pay Pal fee buttons below, or a check can be mailed to:

FBI Portland Citizens Academy Alumni Association Attn: Washington, D.C. Trip P.O. Box 80033 Portland, OR 97280

FBI Training Academy in Quantico Virginia

Proudly called, “West Point for Law Enforcement,’ the FBI Academy occupies 547 acres on a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, just 40 miles from Washington DC. The Academy, which opened in 1972, grew out of the need for special agents to learn marksmanship when first given the right to carry weapons in 1934. The Marine Corps generously made their Quantico firing range available; however, it soon became apparent that there was also a need for classroom space to provide instructions in many other areas of FBI work. Construction of a new complex started in 1969.

About the Academy

The new academy boasted 24 classrooms, two dormitories, dining hall, high-capacity auditorium, gym, swimming pool, state of the art library and new firing range. In 1987, a simulated training town called “Hogan’s Alley” was added, followed by facilities to accommodate engineering research, hostage rescue teams and behavioral science teams. The one-of-a-kind Center for Intelligence Training and a state-of-the-arts laboratory building were added in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

The training division now has a staff of approximately 600, including special agents, intelligence analysts and other professional specialists. The division encompasses three sections: new Agent Training; intelligence Training and the National Academy.

New Agent Training

All new agents are required to attend a 20-week training session at Quantico that includes 850 hours of instruction in four areas:

• Academics.  Classroom instruction in subjects like bureau operations, investigative techniques, law, behavioral science, interviewing, forensics, cyber crime, interrogation, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, report writing, computer skills and ethics.
• Case Exercises.  Trainees are placed in real-life situations played out in the simulated town of Hogan’s Alley where actors play criminals and terrorists. The exercise begins with a tip and culminates in multiple arrests. Trainees are also given the opportunity to present evidence in a moot court.
• Firearms Training and Operational Skills. Students learn to fire all bureau-issued weapons and must qualify with a score of 80 or better on three record attempts. Operational skills taught include safe driving techniques, surveillance operations and defensive tactics like boxing, handcuffing, grappling and disarming. Special equipment similar to a sophisticated video game is utilized to test the agent’s ability to make split-second decisions. Practical exercises carried out in Hogan’s Alley feature a simulated bank robbery, kidnapping and assault on a federal officer. Paint guns are used in place of standard FBI-issued weapons.
• Physical Training. Trainees go through a rigorous program to assure physical fitness after which they must pass such fitness tests as a timed 300-meter sprint, a timed 1.5 mile run, and a required number of sit-ups and push-ups.

Special agents return to Quantico throughout their careers for specialized training and refresher courses.

Intelligence Training

The second division of the Quantico training center focuses on basic and advanced training for intelligence analysts. The FBI was transformed into an intelligence-driven organization following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The Bureau has since improved practices related to collecting, analyzing and disseminating intelligence in order to incapacitate security threats. Intelligence analysts not only receive exhaustive training as new recruits but are exposed to continuing professional development throughout their careers. The curriculum includes instruction in:

• Operational doctrine
• Relevant policies
• Basic guidelines underlying  the FBI intelligence mission

The division also strives to build strong relationships between intelligence analysts, special agents and other FBI professionals. Partnerships with the broader intelligence community are also emphasized.

National Academy

The National Academy was created in 1935 in response to a study that illustrated the need for standardization and professionalization in law enforcement departments throughout the U.S. Twenty-three students took part in the first training session which included the study of criminal investigation techniques, scientific aids in crime detection, report preparation and administration/organization. Courses in espionage and sabotage were added during World War II.

The current academy offers a comprehensive course of study for law enforcement leaders from the U.S. and abroad. The goal is to elevate standards in law enforcement and cooperation in police departments and agencies the world over. Invitations to participate are determined by a nominating process and extended to leaders/managers of local police/sheriff’s departments from all U.S. states, U.S. territories and over 150 international partner nations. The emphasis is on preparing these leaders for complex contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, superior education/research and a network of partnerships.

Four times yearly 250 of law enforcement leaders attend 10 weeks taking courses in:

• Behavioral science
• Forensic science
• The terrorist mindset
• Communication
• Health/fitness
• Leadership development

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clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

FBI response bolsters Va. argument for new HQ, rankling Md. leaders

In a document justifying the agency’s thinking, FBI officials stressed proximity to Quantico as a decision nears for leaving the Hoover building

The FBI in a letter this month underscored the value of locating its planned suburban headquarters close to existing Virginia facilities as a decision nears in an at-times acrimonious, decade-long fight between the commonwealth and Maryland to lure the agency.

“Distances matter when surging to a command post,” the bureau stated in response to questions that Maryland leaders lodged with the federal government in March. “From a time-savings and environmental perspective, it is meaningfully important to limit the need for the FBI workforce to spend several hours in a car commuting back and forth between locations.”

The document, obtained by The Washington Post and first reported by WUSA9, illuminates the agency’s justification for a heavily weighted criteria that Maryland’s congressional delegation has sought to challenge since the calculus of the federal agency that will select the site made public its grading rubric last year.

When the U.S. General Services Administration graded proximity to Quantico, Va., as its top priority , Maryland leaders challenged the agency to consider President Biden’s own promises to use federal resources to promote equity, which ranked fourth of five factors in the FBI HQ analysis.

The apparent proof that the FBI prefers Virginia — long suspected by those close to the process — prompted Maryland leaders to attack Virginia Republicans who have been critical of the FBI and Department of Justice inquiries into former president Donald Trump .

In response to Maryland leaders’ skepticism that proximity should be the most important consideration, the FBI provided an analysis of more than 1,700 badge swipes at the Quantico gate over nearly two months ending last September. The agency also offered context about what brings people to the facility, and detailed how people based there work across its other sites — including the J. Edgar Hoover building in downtown D.C., which a new suburban headquarters that would house at least 7,500 employees will replace.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) told reporters in Baltimore on Thursday morning that “of the two jurisdictions, only one — Maryland — actually has a chief executive who has gone on the record and says he believes in the mission of the FBI.”

Moore reiterated his position that the Maryland sites have the best transportation assets, cost, and racial equity opportunities, and can most quickly deliver the $2 billion project. But he also questioned whether Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) — who in the past declined to denounce Republican efforts to strip funding for the FBI headquarters — supports the institution.

“I just don’t see how this is even a close contest,” Moore said, according to a recording of the remarks obtained by The Washington Post. “The FBI building should be in the state of Maryland, and I think that Virginia is not only going to have to fight on the merits, but I think their chief executive doesn’t even believe in the funding of the FBI.”

A spokeswoman for Youngkin seemed to shrug off Moore’s comments, insisting that the benefits of locating in Virginia speak for themselves.

“Virginia is well-positioned to support the FBI headquarters with a diverse workforce, extensive transportation network and close proximity to public and private sector partners,” Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said. “Virginia’s competitive advantage is clear, and partisan attacks won’t change that.”

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), who has served as something of a field commander for the Maryland delegation, said in a statement that Maryland leaders had seen the agency’s numbers before.

“This response remains inadequate as it simply repackages the same numbers without directly answering our Delegation’s questions about them,” he said, adding that locating the headquarters in Maryland would achieve the Biden-Harris equity objectives and cost less.

The FBI wants to stay in D.C., but Congress has already said goodbye

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said the FBI’s emphasis on what would be convenient for some of its workers “misses the point” about what’s best for federal taxpayers and whether it is fair to consolidate resources in a community already overflowing with them.

“The FBI continues to rehash the same data about a small percentage of its HQ workforce, apparently believing this snapshot overcomes the strength of Maryland’s case for the new, consolidated FBI headquarters,” Cardin said in a statement. “Once again, the FBI misses the point of what equity means for the communities that have been victim to systemic bias. This is a decision that transcends the FBI’s myopic interests, which is why the General Service Administration (GSA) has been tasked with the site selection.”

FBI leaders have expressed a desire to keep the agency’s headquarters in the nation’s capital, where they have quick access to the Department of Justice and stand as a public-facing symbol of law and order. But lawmakers eager to deliver for their constituents are determined to steer the nation’s premier crime-fighting institution to one of their states.

The tension between Maryland and Virginia has fostered a united front among the Maryland delegation, which asserts that relocating to prospective sites in Landover or Greenbelt, Md., in Prince George’s County, would yield generational economic impacts. Virginia leaders’ arguments for the Springfield site have underscored the accessibility of major highways, the FBI’s ownership of land in the area and the proximity to the FBI Academy at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) said in a statement that Prince George’s County excels in several criteria, such as cost, access to transit and equity.

“Our sites are the best options in terms of cost for the American taxpayer, because they are ready to go now, while the Springfield site will cost hundreds of millions of dollars more,” she said. “Locating the FBI in Prince George’s is also a meaningful way for the Biden administration to advance equity in federal government decisions, consistent with the administration’s executive orders on equity.”

Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) — who is competing with Alsobrooks to succeed the retiring Cardin — directly attacked Virginia Republicans over their past denunciations of the FBI, which range from defending Trump from federal inquiry to Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) questioning the political motivations of agents.

“Time after time, Gov. Youngkin and Republican members of Virginia’s federal delegation have called for defunding the FBI, questioned its motives, and scorned its mission,” Trone said in a statement released Thursday afternoon in tandem with a more muted response from Moore.

“We must ask ourselves: Why should the FBI headquarters be moved to a state where it’s unwanted and under threat by the state’s governor and Members of Congress? It’s outrageous and embarrassing,” Trone said. “In Maryland, we will always welcome the FBI and the hard-working Americans defending our country.”

In the document, the FBI said its employees make trips to Quantico to work cases, respond to threats, and to prep employees and partners to serve in a variety of roles. Much of FBI’s training happens at the FBI Academy or on the wider Quantico campus, according to the document.

“These diverse classes and exercises, hosted by various divisions, are attended by students through all stages of their careers and are frequently led by the headquarters personnel best suited to instruct on the subjects,” the document states. “While these trainings range in duration from a few hours to a few weeks, instructors may only be required for a specific block of instruction. We must ensure that participation in these critical trainings and exercises continues unimpeded by distance if the FBI is to properly train and develop its people.”

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called the memo “a very important document.”

He said it was particularly significant because “it was prepared by the FBI knowing that it was going to go into the hands of folks in Maryland that didn’t necessarily agree with it, which makes me very impressed that they were [so] blunt and candid about it,” he said, calling the conclusions “common sense.”

The Biden administration’s criteria for locating the new headquarters put great weight on “mission compatibility,” Kaine said, and that puts a priority on having access to other FBI facilities.

“The Marylanders have tried to rewrite the administration’s criteria for selecting the site,” he said, adding that he and Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) have been “in constant touch” with the White House, urging the administration not to change the criteria for site selection.

“Any change in the criteria would look like it was a political move,” he said.

A decision on where the headquarters will be located is expected this year.

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FBI Houston CAAA visits Quantico

by Sandija Bayot | Apr 20, 2024

April 10, 2024 Quantico

One of the amazing bonuses of being involved with the FBI Houston Citizens Academy Alumni Association is that, not only do we have opportunities to engage with fabulous, exclusive speakers and attend great informational, timely discussions but are also being invited to join other grads for an exclusive and memorable experience in Quantico and Washington, D.C.

In Quantico, we learned the history of the FBI Academy, FBI National Academy, and New Agent and Intelligence Analysts training. As a tour participant, we saw Hogan’s Alley, Tactical Emergency Vehicle Operations Center (TEVOC), Physical Fitness Training areas, and the Firearms Ranges. And, as the FBI Citizens Academy visitors, we also received a presentation by an FBI Academy subject matter expert (SME) and visited the world renown FBI Laboratory Division.

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