Approximately 1,400 FBI employees could be coming to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal over the next three years, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.

During a budget hearing for the FBI, Patel was questioned by Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, regarding the timeline for when more FBI employees would be sent to the agency’s north Alabama location.

Patel, appointed by President Donald Trump, said that in order for more employees to be moved from Washington D.C. to Huntsville several more training facilities will need to be built at Redstone Arsenal.

Patel said this would cost $160 million and over three years to complete.

“The North Campus is largely constructed and filled. The South Campus land has been leveled, and the plots have been mapped out,” Patel said.

“In order to fill it, and in order to build buildings three and four and five as we call them and the new training facilities—that we and the appropriators have already looked into and approved—we’re going to need another $160 million to accomplish that.

“And once those buildings are built in the next three years, we will move another 1,300 maybe it’s 1,400 employees down (to) Huntsville.“

The timeline reaffirms Patel’s commitment to trying to send more FBI employees to Huntsville.

During a recent visit to Redstone Arsenal Patel said that “more and more“ FBI agents will be sent to work at the facility.

Patel has already made an order to transfer 500 workers from Washington D.C. to Redstone Arsenal who should arrive by, “the end of the year”, Patel said.

Strong also asked Patel about the visit and what impression it left on him. Patel responded saying the facility was the, “premier experienced law-enforcement capability center.”

“What I saw while I was there was the best example of what I see when appropriators work with the bureau to defend the nation and I wish everybody would go down to Huntsville, Alabama,” Patel said.

“It is our premier, premier experienced law-enforcement capability center and training facility that the interagency only wishes they had.”