Trump’s $900M White House Ballroom Is Trash? Merkley Raises Funding Questions In Fresh Speech

By Oneindia News

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Senator Jeff Merkley is escalating his criticism of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom project, calling for greater congressional oversight, funding transparency, and a federal audit. The dispute centers on the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom, the demolition of the White House East Wing, and questions over whether congressional authorization is required for the project. In August 2026, Merkley and other Senate Democrats requested a Government Accountability Office audit examining the project’s funding, approval process, costs, security-related spending, contractor relationships, and compliance with federal procedures. Merkley’s office says the administration has used more than $300 million in previously appropriated federal funding, while the administration has defended the project and its funding approach. The legal fight has also continued in federal courts, with the Supreme Court later allowing above-ground construction to proceed while litigation continues

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