Sarah Blaskey

Experts say the move that would allow the administration to bypass a lengthy public bidding process is unusual because the site is not part of the White House complex.

An internal cost estimate in March by the project’s contractor ran $200 million more than Trump has said publicly and counters his claims that no taxpayer money will be spent.

Five months after the demolition of the White House's East Wing, President Donald Trump claimed that the project to construct a massive ballroom

The unusually large shift comes amid revelations that the president’s ballroom project will rely more on taxpayer money than the administration acknowledged.

Jonathan O'Connell, Riley Beggin, Jarrell Dillard and Sarah Blaskey The Washington Post

The White House routed a $500 million no-bid contract through a White House office that typically handles repairs and furnishings and is exempt from competitive bidding requirements.

Sarah Blaskey and Jonathan O'Connell The Washington Post

The contractor has sought to shave off more than a month of the planned timeline, requiring 24/7 work, documents show.

The White House sped up construction of a new helipad and related work in anticipation of an "upcoming state visit," requiring crews to work around the clock and driving the cost up by $875,000, according to a contractor's records obtained by The Washington Post.

The president has been involved negotiating prices for White House projects, The Washington Post has reported.