Overview
- New reporting describes frequent design meetings that officials say veered into micromanagement, fueling friction between President Trump and architect James McCrery II over a proposed 90,000-square-foot addition that critics warn could dwarf the 55,000-square-foot mansion.
- Senate and House Democrats introduced measures to limit private gifts for White House projects by barring conflicted or anonymous donations, prohibiting solicitation by top officials, requiring National Park Service and Office of Government Ethics clearance, mandating post-donation meeting disclosures, and imposing a two-year lobbying freeze.
- The project is now pegged at roughly $300 million after an earlier $200 million estimate, and the White House’s donor list includes major technology firms such as Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft, as well as defense contractors including Lockheed Martin and Palantir.
- The East Wing was demolished in October and construction is underway, drawing preservation objections and questions about proceeding before National Capital Planning Commission review and during a period when federal operations were curtailed.
- The White House rejects corruption allegations, with a spokesman saying the goal is to make the residence beautiful and a senior official characterizing the architect discussions as routine.