Multiple reports describe a $500 million no-bid contract used for construction of a White House ballroom. The Washington Post reports that the White House routes the contract through a White House office that typically handles repairs and furnishings and is generally exempt from competitive bidding requirements. The contract is described as being awarded to Clark Construction.
According to the reports, President Donald Trump is directly involved in negotiating at least some contract costs, based on contract and records cited by The Washington Post. The administration argues that the spending falls under federal authority related to the care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurnishing, improvement, and related work for the White House grounds and facilities, which it says allows it to bypass competitive bidding.
One outlet further notes that a federal judge rejected the administration’s use of that same legal rationale in March, while the specific no-bid contract described in the reports has not yet become a separate legal matter. The White House also cites national security as a reason for not disclosing agency needs during procurement.
