Trump defends White House ballroom cost as under budget and ahead of schedule
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 6
Trump defends White House ballroom cost as under budget and ahead of schedule
8 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 6
He said the East Wing project’s 22,000-square-foot ballroom for about 1,000 guests will cost less than $400 million after being expanded from an original $200 million plan.
The defence follows scrutiny of a separate $1 billion Senate reconciliation provision for security upgrades tied to the East Wing Modernization Project, which Democrats say could shift costs to taxpayers.
The planning commission approved the scheme in April, while a court stay lets construction continue until a June 5 appeals hearing in a preservation challenge over congressional authorisation.
How will the blend of private and public funding for the East Wing Modernization affect transparency and accountability for future White House projects?
Did the demolition of the historic East Wing and rapid approval process bypass important preservation safeguards, and what are the long-term consequences?
Could the new White House ballroom’s security features truly prevent incidents like the recent assassination attempt, or are there overlooked vulnerabilities?