Key facts
- The Trump administration plans to spend at least $900 million on White House construction projects.
- Leaked records suggest a planned White House ballroom project could cost $600 million.
- Taxpayers are expected to cover more than half of the ballroom's cost, with funds coming from the Secret Service and White House Military Office.
- President Trump had previously claimed the project would be taxpayer-free and initially estimated its cost at $200 million.
- The administration has cited security as a priority for the rebuild.
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to spend at least $900 million on construction projects at the White House, according to reports citing leaked records. A significant portion of this spending is allocated to a planned ballroom, which internal documents suggest could cost $600 million.
Despite President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that the projects would be funded by private sources and not cost taxpayers, leaked records obtained by the Washington Post indicate that taxpayers are expected to cover more than half of the ballroom's expenses. These funds are reportedly being channeled through the Secret Service ($155 million) and the White House Military Office ($149 million), with an additional $3 million from the Executive Residence. This contradicts Trump's earlier statements, including his initial promise of a $200 million cost and later public estimate of $400 million, which he claimed would be taxpayer-free.
The construction plans have faced strong opposition from preservationists and ethics watchdogs. A judge had previously paused above-ground work following a lawsuit by a preservation group, though underground excavation was permitted to continue. The administration has since emphasized the project's security importance, particularly after an apparent attempt on the president's life.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated that President Trump and "generous American patriots" are funding the ballroom, while contractor Clark Construction has declined to comment on the leaked figures.