Donald Trump reportedly awarded a no-bid contract for the construction of his East Wing ballroom project. New reports claim that the contract was worth up to $500 million, higher than his initial cost estimate.
Contract behind Donald Trump’s White House ballroom was worth up to $500M, report claims
According to a report by The Washington Post, Donald Trump awarded Clark Construction a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million for the construction of the White House ballroom project. The decision strays from the standard competitive bidding process commonly undertaken by federal agencies as a method of cost-cutting.
The report, citing a copy of the agreement, noted that officials were able to route the contract through the office of the Executive Residence. This White House office is responsible for routine repair work and decor in the building. According to the outlet, the Executive Residence is exempt from federal regulations that require competitive bidding and public disclosure.
Speaking with the Post, a White House official stated that the Executive Residence is a division under the Executive Office of the President, which “consistently executes contracts following the law.” They also noted that the contract for the ballroom project in the East Wing was issued through that office as it “will be the primary support of the facility.”
Furthermore, a spokesperson for Clark Construction addressed accepting the contract for the construction of the East Wing project. They shared that the company has been a federal contractor for over eight decades.
“We follow established procurement and contracting processes for each project and execute the work consistent with schedule, budget, delivery, and contractual requirements,” the Clark Construction rep stated.
Trump’s initial cost estimate for the ballroom was $200 million, which later increased to $400 million. The most recent contractor estimate reported by The Washington Post sits at a whopping $600 million. The outlet also reported that the president directly negotiated some costs for the project with the contractor, though the specific expenses remain unclear.
