secured when President Obama signed into law the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015, on March 3, 2015. A groundbreaking ceremony for construction on the full facility was held on May 27, 2015. It was attended by Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. In 2019 the Department of Homeland Security shed its interest in the project, and agreed to transfer operating responsibility of the facility once completed to the Department of Agriculture. DHS will remain in charge of the remainder of construction. References External links United States Department of Homeland Security Buildings and structures in Riley County, Kansas Biosafety level 4 laboratories Manhattan, Kansas