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PoliticsTrump continues White House renovations without congressional approval as costs escalate
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President Donald Trump is undertaking new renovations on the White House's North Portico, including security improvements and column repairs, without congressional approval as required by law. This follows recent construction of a helipad on the South Lawn and renovations to the South Portico and driveway. The White House demanded the helipad contractor speed up completion by mid-September for an upcoming state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding $875,000 to the $13 million cost. Trump claimed Sikorsky would cover the helipad cost, but taxpayers are expected to fund other projects. The article highlights a pattern of cost overruns, noting the ballroom project originally estimated at $200 million has ballooned to $600 million, with taxpayers responsible for half. The piece criticizes the administration's approach and raises concerns about construction quality, citing a toxic Reflecting Pool and crumbling Fourth of July venue.
Source report
President Donald Trump is not finished transforming one of the nation's most iconic buildings into an active construction site—and expecting American taxpayers to cover the costs.
The front doors of the White House, which face Lafayette Park and pedestrian traffic, are currently undergoing security improvements. Repairs are also being made to the iconic columns on the North Portico, CBS News reported Friday.
On Friday, tarps were spotted on the front of the White House's North Portico, printed with images of what the structure should look like while renovations continue underneath.
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This is the latest renovation project the White House has undertaken without approval from Congress, which is required to authorize any construction on federal land. For months, Trump has treated the White House—which belongs to all Americans, not just the president—like one of his gaudy resort properties.
Previous Renovations and Cost Overruns
- Helipad Construction: Last month, Trump began construction on a helipad in the South Lawn without any official notice. At the same time, the administration moved to renovate the White House's South Portico and re-top the driveway.
- Accelerated Timeline: The White House later demanded the contractor speed up the project, adding $875,000 to the already $13 million price tag. Contractor documents showed a last-minute demand to complete construction by mid-September in anticipation of an "upcoming state visit"—just days after Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit on September 24. The North Portico project is also estimated to be completed around mid-September.
- Funding Questions: Trump claimed that Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary that builds Marine One helicopters, would cover the cost of a $5 million or $6 million helipad—but it appears likely that American taxpayers will pay for the rest of his construction.
- Ballroom Project: Trump originally claimed his White House ballroom project would only cost $200 million and wouldn't touch the original building. He then demolished the East Wing, and costs ballooned to $300 million, then $400 million after he added extra building. Last month, a bombshell report revealed taxpayers would be responsible for half of a $600 million price tag.
Additional Concerns
There is reason to be concerned about the former slumlord's various construction projects, including the president's toxic Reflecting Pool and his crumbling venue for the Fourth of July.
Read more about Trump's renovations: Trump Wanted to Install the Grossest Thing in White House Bathroom
Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Anti-DEI Grant Conditions
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A federal judge handed President Trump two new losses in his war against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued a preliminary injunction to freeze Trump's effort to place anti-DEI conditions on federal grants in multiple cities in Oregon and California, ruling that the move overstepped Congress's power of the purse.
Source
The New RepublicWestern
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Trump begins construction of permanent White House helipad funded by Lockheed Martin