UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump's massive ballroom project may be propped up by hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money, contradicting the president's claims that it would be entirely privately funded.
The project, which involves a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, has seen its estimated cost skyrocket to a staggering $600 million, with approximately half of that amount expected to come from taxpayer-funded sources. This revelation has sparked outrage among lawmakers, who had previously drawn a sharp line against using taxpayer funds for the project.
Earlier this year, lawmakers were confronted with a proposal to add around $220 million in security enhancement funding for the ballroom through budget reconciliation, and both Republicans and Democrats pushed back against the idea. The report has raised questions about the use of taxpayer dollars for the project, with Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, saying, "We have to have a serious conversation about the benefit to the taxpayers... If taxpayers aren't paying for it, it's a different bar, but if they're paying for it, we have to have a totally different conversation."
According to information obtained by UMVA, documents between the White House and Clark Construction, the company leading the construction of the ballroom, reveal that the project's estimated cost has ballooned to $600 million, far exceeding the president's initial claim of $100 million. The documents show that $293 million is expected to come from private donors, while the remaining $307 million will come from the Secret Service, White House Military Office, and Executive Residence – all of which are funded by taxpayers.
The White House has responded to the report, with spokesman Davis Ingle saying that the East Wing Modernization Project is "inextricably tied to the security of the president, the White House grounds and certain security infrastructure assets." Ingle did not deny the figures, but instead emphasized that the project will be funded by a combination of private and public funds, saying, "President Trump and generous American patriots are funding the ballroom to the tune of approximately $400 million, which will be a secure and appropriate venue for presidents for generations to come."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed surprise at the report, saying it would be a "different narrative than what we've heard." He acknowledged that there may be a rationale for using taxpayer funds for security-related aspects of the project, but emphasized that lawmakers need to be responsible with public dollars.
Not all lawmakers are convinced that the project warrants the use of taxpayer funds, with Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., saying he would prefer private funding but is open to using public dollars if it means enhancing security. However, he claimed that he and other Republicans were not contacted by the White House about using taxpayer money for the ballroom.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., drew parallels with another high-profile project – the renovations to the Federal Reserve's headquarters – which went over budget and sparked controversy. He cautioned that hasty projects can lead to mistakes and emphasized the need for a thoughtful approach.
Some Republicans have dismissed the report, with Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, jokingly saying, "You lost me at Washington Post." However, the report has raised important questions about the use of taxpayer funds for the project and the transparency of the Trump administration's plans.
