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White House spending plan
The Trump administration is set to spend at least $900 million on construction projects on the White House grounds, with Reuters reporting the Washington Post said the money would be routed through other agencies and private donors rather than secured directly from Congress.
“set to spend at least $900 million for construction projects on the White House grounds”
Reuters said the administration directed funds to an account that holds a few million dollars for routine maintenance of the White House, and that confidential contracts and planning documents indicate the money would be used for White House "modernization projects."
The Washington Post report described the planned expenditure as at least $900 million, and The Times of India said the figure could reach at least USD 927 million and include the East Wing project.
The Times of India also tied the spending plans to a legal dispute, saying days earlier a federal appeals court ordered the administration to halt construction of Trump's proposed USD 400 million ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing.
Court fight and scrutiny
The Times of India reported that the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Friday that Trump could not continue construction of the East Wing ballroom without congressional approval, and it quoted the appeals court saying, “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.”
Reuters said the White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Reuters also reported it could not immediately verify the Washington Post report.
The Times of India said Trump vowed to challenge the ruling before the US Supreme Court, calling the decision politically motivated and arguing that the project is necessary for White House security.
The Times of India further reported that the administration has defended the involvement of security agencies in funding infrastructure linked to the project, while the spending plans drew fresh scrutiny after the appeals court ruling.
How funds are routed
The Times of India reported that records reviewed by The Washington Post said the administration assembled money for the projects through transfers from other government agencies and private donations rather than seeking a direct appropriation from Congress.
“routed through the White House's Executive Residence maintenance account”
It said the funds were routed through the White House's Executive Residence maintenance account, which is traditionally used for routine repairs and restoration work and typically receives only a few million dollars annually.
The Times of India added that public budget records show about USD 875 million has been directed to the maintenance account since Trump returned to office, and it said the funding included USD 500 million transferred from the US Secret Service and the White House Military Office.
The Times of India also reported that USD 305 million came from private donations and another USD 70 million was directed to the account, though its source was not identified in the documents reviewed by the newspaper.