Intelligence director rejects spy agency relocation reversal

ST. LOUIS — The director of national intelligence said he doesn’t plan to overturn a subordinate’s preliminary decision to build a federal spy agency’s new regional headquarters in St. Louis rather than relocate to Illinois.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported James Clapper said Monday he has “no basis” to reject the recommendation by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s director.

Illinois officials continue to lobby for a reversal of NGA director Robert Cardillo’s choice. A final decision is expected by early June.

The agency plans to move from its current location near the Anheuser-Busch brewery south of downtown St. Louis to a site on the city’s impoverished north side.

Illinois politicians sought to convince the federal government to instead move to a location near Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County.

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com