President Donald Trump has embarked on an ambitious project to construct a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, named the "Trump Ballroom," with a price tag of $300 million. The project is being funded entirely by private donors. The chosen contractor, Clark Construction, based in McLean, Virginia, has a checkered history of significant delays and budget overruns, which has led to doubts regarding the successful and timely completion of the ballroom. Robert Moser, President of Clark since 2013, is at the helm of the company as it undertakes this high-profile addition to the presidential residence.
Clark Construction's portfolio includes several substantial projects that have not adhered to their original timelines and budgets. Among them is the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, which concluded four years behind schedule and $629 million over budget. Factors such as design defects, subcontractor bankruptcies, and on-site accidents were contributing factors to the project's delay. Furthermore, an audit by the Department of Defense Inspector General reported 978 contract change requests adding $178 million to the total cost. In another instance, the Silver Line Metro extension in Washington, D.C. experienced a similar fate with extensive delays and cost overruns.
The White House ballroom's lavish design includes crystal chandeliers, gilded columns, and gold inlays, reflecting the aesthetics of Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's private club. The East Wing of the White House was demolished in October 2025 to make room for the new structure. Prominent tech companies, cryptocurrency billionaires, and key Trump supporters are among the donors for the project.
Concerns about the selection process of Clark Construction for the White House project have been raised by Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, citing the company's extensive federal work and government contracts totaling $4 billion. Noah Bookbinder, of the nonprofit watchdog group CREW, has criticized the deal for being a "no-bid contract," cautioning that such an approach could lead to increased risks of cost overruns and subpar performance.
Despite its controversial track record, Clark Construction, with nearly 5,000 employees and $7 billion in annual revenue, has completed numerous successful projects. The firm's association with previous Trump administration ventures, such as the 2017 Eisenhower Memorial and a $2 billion Washington, D.C., beautification project, has been noted by critics who argue that such involvement may enhance the company's prospects for future contracts. With the approval from the Trump administration, the ballroom construction is underway, yet questions linger over the final cost, completion timeline, and the potential for the same issues that have plagued Clark's past projects to reoccur.
