Trump Planned $1.3 Trillion White House Renovation, Mostly Taxpayer Funds: Report

The Trump administration secretly planned a massive White House renovation project costing over $1.3 trillion, with the majority of funds coming from taxpayer money, the Washington Post reported. The "White House Modernization Project" includes constructing a new East Wing banquet hall, a helipad, and a visitor security screening center, along with improvements to Lafayette Square. The total cost is estimated at a minimum of $927 million, far exceeding previously known figures.

While White House construction projects typically require congressional approval and funding, the Trump administration did not disclose the total cost or the source of the funds. The Post obtained confidential contract and planning documents revealing that the project was managed through a White House entity responsible for presidential residences, which is not subject to public disclosure requirements.

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The total construction cost is expected to be at least $927 million.

Congress usually allocates about $2.5 million annually for White House repairs. However, after the start of Trump's second term, a staggering $875 million was transferred to this account. The budget office approved $500 million from the Secret Service and White House Military Office, supplemented by $305 million in private donations and an additional $70 million from an unspecified source.

This revelation contradicts President Trump's public statements that the banquet hall construction would be privately funded and involve no tax money. The project has faced legal challenges, with a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. upholding a lower court's decision to halt construction. The court ruled that the administration cannot undertake large-scale White House construction without congressional approval. Trump has vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

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The administration cannot undertake large-scale White House construction without congressional approval.