The Trump administration is directing at least $927 million toward major construction projects on the White House grounds, far exceeding previous estimates. The overwhelming majority of the cost will be covered by taxpayer money.
According to The Washington Post, instead of seeking funding directly from Congress, the administration has transferred money from other federal agencies and private donors. The funds have been concentrated in a maintenance account that was typically used for minor repairs.
The “White House Repair and Restoration” account, which normally receives around $2.5 million a year, has been allocated approximately $875 million under the Trump administration. Of that amount, $500 million comes from the Secret Service and the White House Military Office, while $305 million comes from private donors.
More than $400 million in Secret Service funds was transferred in June, after an effort in Congress to secure funding for a new ballroom in the East Wing and a new visitor screening facility failed.
The administration has justified the project on security grounds. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said that recent threats, including the risk posed by drones, require major infrastructure upgrades.
Planning documents show that the project is broader in scope and also includes a helipad and changes to Lafayette Square, bringing the overall cost closer to $1 billion.
The project has faced legal obstacles. A federal appeals court has halted construction of the ballroom and ruled that congressional approval is required for the structure, raising questions about the limits of presidential authority.
The judges emphasized that the Constitution gives Congress authority over the construction and demolition of White House structures. The scale of the project exceeds both the major renovation of the White House during Harry Truman’s presidency and a $376 million project initiated during the Barack Obama administration.
