This story appeared in The Logoffa daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news rule your life. Register here.
Welcome to The Logoff: Stop me if you’ve heard this – President Donald Trump’s proposed White House polling station is getting expensive (again).
What is happening? On Monday evening, Senate Republicans released a proposed $70 billion immigration funding package — with an additional $1 billion earmarked for the “East Wing Improvement Project.”
To call Trump’s project “modern” is a bit of a stretch — he destroyed the East Wing last year — but he’s in the process of building a grand ballroom in its place, as well deeply buried underground bunkerreplacing the former Presidential Emergency Operations Center located under the East Wing.
The text of the bill specifies that none of the $1 billion can be used for “non-security aspects” of the project, but it is unclear how seriously the White House might take that restriction; In the past, Trump and his lawyers have described the entire ballroom as a national security priority.
What is the context? When it was announced, Trump said that the hall will cost 200 million dollars. Then it was $300 million, and then $400 million – but it was still all private money, from donors like that. Nvidia and Palantir. (There are also obvious ethical problems around government-owned companies raising money for the president’s highest personal priority, but that’s a different issue.)
According to the text of Monday’s bill, however, the cost appears to be much higher — and a large portion of it could be paid for with taxpayer dollars.
Will this really happen? TBD. Republicans hope to pass an immigration package, and additional funding for ICE and CBP as well as theater money, through the reconciliation process, which only needs a majority to pass the Senate.
They have the votes to do so, if the party holds it together – but if some Senate Democrats have said, advancing the bill now would mean giving their clear blessing to Trump very unpopular construction project.
And so, it’s time to leave…
Here is a very useful Atlantic article that I, a chronic multitasker, read with some degree of horror: The Secret Of Success Is ‘Monotasking.’ But even – or maybe especially – if you suffer the same, it’s a great piece, and you can read it with the giveaway link. here.
Have a good evening, and we’ll see you here tomorrow!
