{"id":43848,"date":"2026-08-14T07:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T02:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43848"},"modified":"2026-08-14T07:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T02:34:00","slug":"trumps-white-house-remodel-tab-keeps-growing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43848","title":{"rendered":"Trump&#039;s White House remodel tab keeps growing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.axios.com\/LCxCoiHYU-thS5l-XdPxtqqs1pQ=\/0x0:1920x1080\/1366x768\/2025\/10\/14\/1760474481166.jpeg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/08\/12\/trumps-ballroom-costs-are-rising-what-we-know-about-the-secret-underground-bunker\" target=\"_blank\">East Wing<\/a> is gone, a new helipad is spreading across the lawn, and scaffolding wraps the White House&#8217;s front columns, but the price tags for President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/politics-policy\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\">Trump&#8217;s<\/a> renovations are far less obvious.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The big picture:<\/strong> The muddled mix of funding streams \u2014 whether from private donors, the president himself or taxpayers \u2014 has fueled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/10\/16\/trump-white-house-ballroom-ethics-donors\" target=\"_blank\">ethical questions<\/a> about who&#8217;s footing the ever-rising bill for the HGTV-reminiscent White House redesign.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>The latest: <\/strong>Senate Democrats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.budget.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/letter_gao_audit_of_white_house_ballroom.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">urged<\/a> the Government Accountability Office to audit the ballroom project&#8217;s scope and cost Wednesday.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One tally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/investigations\/2026\/08\/12\/trump-administration-set-spend-least-900-million-white-house-construction\/\" target=\"_blank\">reported<\/a> exclusively by The Washington Post this week, says the president&#8217;s construction projects, including upgrades to Lafayette Square and other renovations, could cost at least $927 million.<\/li>\n<li>The lawmakers cited a lack of transparency and &#8220;limited congressional oversight, meaningful public input, and adherence to established federal processes.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What they&#8217;re saying: <\/strong>White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement that Trump <strong>&#8220;<\/strong>continues to implement long-overdue and necessary renovations,&#8221; calling him the &#8220;Builder-in-Chief.&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>As the administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/12\/16\/trump-ballroom-construction-security-concerns\" target=\"_blank\">has argued<\/a> in court, Ingle said the East Wing project is  &#8220;inextricably tied&#8221; to security concerns, pointing to an alleged plot to attack this summer&#8217;s UFC fight on White House grounds.<\/li>\n<li>A senior administration official said the ballroom would be built with private donations, not tax dollars. Reported donors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/10\/23\/politics\/ballroom-donors-white-house-trump\" target=\"_blank\">include<\/a> Google, Apple, Amazon and Lockheed Martin, among several other household names.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Zoom in: <\/strong>While critics demand more specifics on the costs and sources of funding, one thing is clear: 18 months in, Trump&#8217;s construction itch hasn&#8217;t eased, and the price tag keeps on growing with it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Zoom out:<\/strong> While the East Wing&#8217;s demolition might be the most head-turning change, an unclear cascade of cash is being poured into other projects, as well, including: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2026\/07\/16\/us\/politics\/white-house-helipad-trump.html\" target=\"_blank\">helipad<\/a> for the new Marine One model, with Lockheed Martin covering up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/watch-trump-says-sikorsky-is-paying-for-a-beautiful-granite-helipad-at-the-white-house\" target=\"_blank\">$6 million<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The Rose Garden re-do, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2026\/06\/24\/us\/trump-dc-costs-ballroom-arch-pool.html?ae=oa\" target=\"_blank\">reportedly<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-white-house-rose-garden-club-e862eba55133195f0297c3595ba4122f\" target=\"_blank\">cost<\/a> around $2 million, covered by private donations.<\/li>\n<li>A granite pathway to the Oval Office that Trump said he was <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/edokeefe\/status\/2036527006788030699\" target=\"_blank\">paying<\/a> for \u2014 though an investigation by The Atlantic said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/2026\/06\/national-parks-trump-white-house-renovations\/687700\/\" target=\"_blank\">otherwise<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Zoom in:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/08\/07\/trump-ballroom-project-blocked-appeals-court\" target=\"_blank\">stalled<\/a> ballroom project&#8217;s price tag has risen rapidly after it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefings-statements\/2025\/07\/the-white-house-announces-white-house-ballroom-construction-to-begin\/\" target=\"_blank\">initially<\/a> pitched at<strong> <\/strong>roughly $200 million last year. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trump then <a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/factbase\/trump\/transcript\/donald-trump-remarks-election-executive-order-march-31-2026\/#40\" target=\"_blank\">told<\/a> reporters earlier this year the cost could be between $300 million or $400 million, &#8220;depending on finishes,&#8221; like &#8220;very expensive marble.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>He <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/%40realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116527410501835336\" target=\"_blank\">defended<\/a> the price hike in May, writing on Truth Social the estimate doubled because &#8220;it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>The Washington Post, citing a summary compiled by the contractor behind the project, reported the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/investigations\/2026\/06\/16\/records-reveal-600m-estimate-trumps-ballroom-project-with-half-taxpayers\/\" target=\"_blank\">estimated<\/a> cost was closer to $600 million in June \u2014 and that taxpayer dollars were being funneled to the project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Catch up quick:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/08\/07\/trump-ballroom-project-blocked-appeals-court\" target=\"_blank\">Above-ground construction<\/a> of the ballroom has been blocked by judges, who say Trump needs congressional approval to proceed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Friction point: <\/strong>The administration also pitched lawmakers on a $1 billion security plan for the renovation project, <em>Axios&#8217; Alex Isenstadt <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/05\/12\/white-house-ballroom-east-wing-secret-service\" target=\"_blank\">previously reported<\/a>, including $220 million for &#8220;hardening&#8221; security and $180 million for a new visitor screening facility.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Republicans didn&#8217;t <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5908157-senate-republicans-strip-ballroom-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\">bite<\/a> \u2014 and the funding has continued to be a source of scrutiny on the Hill. <\/li>\n<li>In June, Democrats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/news\/minority\/murray-murphy-urge-watchdog-to-investigate-trump-admins-use-of-taxpayer-dollars-for-trumps-ballroom\" target=\"_blank\">raised<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blumenthal.senate.gov\/newsroom\/press\/release\/blumenthal-demands-answers-after-trump-administration-redirects-taxpayer-dollars-to-fund-white-house-ballroom-project\" target=\"_blank\">questions<\/a> about why One Big Beautiful Bill <a href=\"https:\/\/openomb.org\/file\/11524925\" target=\"_blank\">funds<\/a> for the Secret Service <a href=\"https:\/\/openomb.org\/file\/11524924\" target=\"_blank\">were<\/a> directed to White House security. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Worth noting: <\/strong>Trump&#8217;s smaller redecorating touches are also indicative of his approach to his temporary home. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>He&#8217;s erected a wall of plaques honoring some former presidents \u2014 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/09\/24\/trump-biden-autopen-white-house-portrait\" target=\"_blank\">mocking others<\/a>. The Oval Office has gradually grown more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/sep\/01\/trump-oval-office-gold-before-after-decor-white-house-makeover\" target=\"_blank\">gilded<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/01\/21\/trump-oval-office-white-house-makeover-biden\" target=\"_blank\">artwork<\/a> has changed.<\/li>\n<li>Plus, he&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/washington-dc\/2026\/08\/12\/trump-kennedy-center-renovation-plans\" target=\"_blank\">not stopping<\/a> on Penn. Ave.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Go deeper:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/08\/13\/trump-haberman-legacy-projects-behind-the-curtain\" target=\"_blank\">Haberman: 70% of Trump&#8217;s brain on monuments<\/a><\/p>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The East Wing is gone, a new helipad is spreading across the lawn, and scaffolding wraps the White House&#8217;s front columns, but the price tags for President Trump&#8217;s renovations are far less obvious. The big picture: The muddled mix of funding streams \u2014 whether from private donors, the president himself or taxpayers \u2014 has fueled&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images.axios.com\/LCxCoiHYU-thS5l-XdPxtqqs1pQ=\/0x0:1920x1080\/1366x768\/2025\/10\/14\/1760474481166.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/43849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}