WASHINGTON — The White House ballroom project initiated by President Donald Trump could cost up to US$600 million, with taxpayers expected to cover more than half, The Washington Post reported on June 16, citing a detailed estimate by contractor Clark Construction.
Trump has repeatedly said the venture would be privately funded and earlier gave cost estimates ranging from US$200 million to US$400 million. But the Post reported a March White House summary put the total at US$600 million while listing only US$293 million from private sources. The newspaper also said invoice logs show the administration had already authorized public payments to the contractor totaling tens of millions of dollars.
The project began in 2025 when the historic East Wing was demolished without prior consultation with Congress. Trump has defended the build as necessary for state events and called it “tax‑payer free,” while Democratic critics portray it as an out‑of‑touch luxury. Legal challenges have temporarily halted above‑ground work pending appeals, and the administration says security concerns after a break‑in attempt at a gala underscore the ballroom’s urgency.