The federal government has delayed releasing plans for a new FBI headquarters — which could possibly be located near the University of Maryland — until Congress approves funding, the General Services Administration announced Friday.

Stopgap budget legislation expiring April 28 and a need for more money for the project has prompted officials to wait before making a final decision. The FBI is considering three sites — Landover, Greenbelt and Springfield, Virginia — for the new building. Greenbelt is located about five miles from this university.

“GSA and FBI have worked diligently since the Fall issuance of the revised schedule,” an agency spokeswoman said in a statement. “We have met the milestones at this point. Appropriations are necessary in order for us to make an announcement and move forward with the next critical steps under the process and ultimately make an award.”

[Read more: New FBI relocation could impact UMD and College Park]

GSA initially selected the finalist locations in 2014 and had planned to announce its choice for the relocation in late 2016, but citing strong responses from developers delayed that announcement until March 10, according to The Washington Post. It did not release a new deadline for choosing a site and its developer at that time, and the project will not move forward until Congress approves funding.

In the meantime, officials made a short list of developers they may pick to build the site.

If Greenbelt is chosen as the new home for the 2.1 million-square-foot headquarters, nearly 11,000 jobs could be brought to the nearby area, College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn said. Having headquarters in Greenbelt could also improve innovation, boost this city’s effort to increase jobs in the area and bring collaboration and partnership opportunities to this university, he added.

“I’m disappointed in the delay,” Wojahn said. “I hope that the federal government can figure out how to move forward and decide that Greenbelt is the best location.”

The facility would join the Maryland Academy for Innovation in National Security — a partnership between this university, the state and the FBI in research and educational opportunities — which this university announced in September. The academy is scheduled to be built in Greenbelt and is geared toward developing new innovations in intelligence-led law enforcement, such as cyber security and intelligence analysis.

“Consider three things: location, location, location,” said university President Wallace Loh in September. “The FBI needs to be close in proximity to the large research university in the region.”

[Read more: An FBI facility in Greenbelt would need 2,400 more parking spaces than initially expected]

Four Maryland Democrats — U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Reps. Steny Hoyer and Anthony Brown — have also released a joint statement expressing discontent with the holdup.

“We recognize the urgent need to select a site, and are concerned that the continued delays will have a negative impact on the safety and security of our nation,” the statement read. “Prince George’s County is the best choice for the FBI, and we call on Congress to fully fund the FBI relocation project.”

In December, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee created new criteria to encourage the headquarters to be close to a Metro station. Of the three proposed sites, Greenbelt is nearest to a Metro stop and a MARC train, although access to public transportation will not be a deciding factor, The Post reported.

Construction of the new site is expected to cost the federal government more than $2 billion, and the chosen developer will also have the chance to redevelop the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which serves as the current FBI headquarters in Washington.

In June, Gov. Larry Hogan pledged $220 million in funds if a location in this state is chosen to house the new site, while Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, pledged $120 million for the proposed Springfield location. Landover and Greenbelt are both in Prince George’s County, which has pledged additional funding if either site is chosen.