Washington Post30 Jun, 2026 07:29 PM6 mins to readAn excavator sits on the rubble of the East Wing of the White House after it was demolished last year. Photo / Getty ImagesAn excavator sits on the rubble of the East Wing of the White House after it was demolished last year. Photo / Getty ImagesWhite House officials last year secretly awarded a no-bid contract worth up to US$500 million ($880m) for the construction of the East Wing ballroom.It is an unusual arrangement that sidestepped typical contracting procedures designed to control costs, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Washington Post.
How Trump is sidestepping the rules to ensure his Washington makeover
The President is using a White House exemption to avoid the bidding process for contracts.
103 words~1 min read
