Democrats aim to cut federal funding for Trump's Washington construction projects

Democratic leaders in Congress plan to restrict federal funding for several major construction projects in Washington, D.C., that President Donald Trump has ordered without seeking legislative approval. The primary target of these efforts is the use of appropriated money for the White House ballroom and the proposed triumphal arch at Memorial Circle.

The administration has moved quickly to alter the capital's landscape during Trump's second term. Workers have already removed hundreds of trees from East Potomac Park and demolished the East Wing of the White House to build the ballroom. Trump signed an executive order declaring the gilded Oval Office a national monument. His administration also began renovations on the Kennedy Center, which trustees say requires a two-year closure.

Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, stated that his committee has a statutory responsibility to authorize or stop changes on federal land. He sent letters earlier this week to dozens of administration officials and private companies, ordering them to preserve records for future investigations. Huffman described the administration's approach as rolling out construction equipment and waiting for courts to intervene.

The House must pass a short-term funding bill by December 11 to avoid a government shutdown. Democrats intend to use this deadline to insert language that limits spending on specific projects. Huffman proposed a provision that would prevent the use of federal funds for East Potomac golf course renovations, restricting that money instead to repairs of the park's crumbling seawall. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, who leads the House committee overseeing Interior Department funding, said she would support this negotiation.

Legal experts note that Congress holds the power of the purse under the Constitution. David Super, a law professor at Georgetown, said that while legislation to block projects directly is possible, a veto from Trump would likely kill it. Super argued that cutting off funds is a more effective strategy because Congress has clear authority over federal spending. He suggested that lawmakers could cap the amount of money diverted from national park entrance fees to D.C. projects, forcing those funds to be used in parks like the Everglades or Yosemite.

Pingree said she will use every tool available to block projects that violate the law. She noted that many Americans are frustrated by the focus on beautification projects while they struggle with the cost of health care and food. She believes the administration will face more scrutiny if it continues to bypass congressional approval for major works.

Beyond funding, Democrats plan to use oversight hearings to investigate the financial aspects of these projects. Claire Leavitt, a government professor at Smith College, said that following the money is a key strategy. She noted that private companies and individuals are often more willing to testify than administration officials. Congress could subpoena records regarding the decision-making processes of the Kennedy Center board and the physical state of the building.

The administration has warned that future investigations could constitute criminality. Huffman said his committee must develop a strategy for oversight that prior Congresses had not imagined. He emphasized that the goal is to hold people accountable for potential wrongdoing while trying to prevent permanent damage to iconic public spaces.