The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has responded to controversy over construction and expansion projects at the White House, asserting that the work is "long overdue and necessary" and "closely tied to the security of the President, the White House campus, and certain security infrastructure assets."
According to documents obtained by The Washington Post, the administration is planning to spend nearly $1 billion on the projects, including a new, large ballroom to replace much of the East Wing. The administration has long maintained that the work is funded by private donors and is necessary for security reasons.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle, in a statement to Al Jazeera, cited recent security incidents, including assassination plots against the President and events surrounding the 250th anniversary of American independence, as reasons for the work. Ingle said the work is being carried out in coordination with the Secret Service and the White House Military Office. He also said that approximately $400 million for the new ballroom comes from "President Trump and generous American patriots."
About $875 million has been placed into the White House Repair and Restoration account, which typically holds only a few million dollars and is used for routine maintenance and upkeep. About $500 million of that comes from the Secret Service and the White House Military Office, the units responsible for protecting the President and his family, as well as top U.S. officials. According to The Post, another $305 million comes from private donations, while the source of the remaining $70 million has not been identified.
The White House renovation project has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and the courts amid concerns that parties with vested interests, including private businesses seeking government contracts, are paying for the work in exchange for favors from the administration. Last week, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered a halt to work on the ballroom, saying the project requires congressional approval under existing law. In June, the advocacy group Public Citizen said it found that corporate donors to the project had received more than $50 billion in government contracts in the previous six months.
