The Trump administration has defended nearly $1bn in White House construction, including a new ballroom replacing much of the East Wing, as security-driven work coordinated with the Secret Service and Military Office. Documents obtained by The Washington Post show about $875m routed through the White House Repair and Restoration account, which normally holds only a few million dollars, with $500m from Secret Service and Military Office budgets, $305m from private donors, and $70m unaccounted for.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle cited past attacks on the president and the 250th anniversary of independence as justification, while insisting $400m of the ballroom's cost comes from Trump and 'generous American patriots.' A federal judge in Washington, DC, has already ordered the ballroom work halted, ruling it required congressional approval.
Lawmakers and watchdogs have raised alarms that corporate donors bankrolling the project are the same firms landing government contracts. Public Citizen found donors received more than $50bn in contracts over six months.
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