Overview
- A group led by Sen. Adam Schiff sent a letter to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles seeking a complete accounting of private donations funding the White House ballroom.
- The request sets a Nov. 5 deadline and asks for donor lists, any terms tied to contributions, identification of donors with federal contracts or bids, related correspondence, and records of ethics guidance.
- Democrats say reported contributors include major tech, defense and crypto firms—such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Palantir and Coinbase—raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
- The letter highlights a reported $24.5 million Alphabet settlement with President Trump as a significant funding source the senators say could signal undue influence.
- The project follows demolition of the East Wing to build a roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom with capacity for up to 999 people, a build expected to exceed $300 million that the White House says will not use taxpayer funds.