Trump administration to spend at least $900 million on White House construction projects: Report

The Trump administration is expected to spend at least $900 million on White House construction projects that will be fueled in part by taxpayer dollars without the approval of Congress, according to a new report from The Washington Post.

In addition to the demolition of the East Wing and subsequent White House ballroom construction, President Trump ordered the space to include an underground security complex, helipad and redesign of the West Wing space, where the Oval Office sits.

Another project to overhaul Lafayette Park is also ballooning the costs attached to the president's vision for the White House campus.

In total, $600 million will be used to create the White House ballroom space, while other funds will be used to support gold embellishments, the acquisition of statues, labor and materials.

The projects being undertaken without approval from lawmakers are unusual in their level of size and scope.

Last week, a federal appeals court ordered the administration to halt its construction projects for two weeks to allow the government to appeal its ruling blocking the ballroom's development with the Supreme Court.

"We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for. Until now," the majority wrote, while the minority argued the ruling was "judicial overreach."

Meanwhile, Trump has argued that the project, including the underground national security complex, is "being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents."

White House spokesperson David Ingle told The Hill many of the projects are "long-overdue" and "necessary renovations."

"The East Wing Modernization Project is inextricably tied to the security of the President, the White House grounds and the certain security infrastructure assets. The press release announcing the construction of the ballroom highlighted coordination with the White House Military Office and the United States Secret Service regarding design features and planning," Ingle said.