Jun 5, 2026
Now that bulldozers have finished tearing into the White House East Wing to make way for President Donald Trump’s controversial ballroom, some of the country’s biggest corporations are quietly helping foot the bill — and a new report suggests they’re getting massive payouts in return.
According to a new report from Public Citizen, 14 of the 27 known project donors have seen their government business grow since making donations. In the last six months alone, contracts awarded have totaled a combined $50 billion.
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“These giant corporations aren’t funding the Trump ballroom fiasco out of the goodness of their hearts,” Jon Golinger, a public policy advocate at Public Citizen and an author of the report, told the Washington Post. “They have massive interests before the federal government, and they hope to curry favor with, and receive favorable treatment from, the Trump administration.”
How contract funding is being distributed
Of the known donors, defense giant Lockheed Martin got the most new business, receiving roughly $43.8 billion in new or expanded government contracts. Booz Allen Hamilton and Palantir followed, with $4.2 billion and over $1 billion respectively.
All three companies were contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.
According to the report, over the last 5 and a half years, 19 out of 27 known corporate donors received contracts totaling $338 billion.
Ironically, 16 of the known donors are also facing federal enforcement from the Trump administration, including antitrust actions or merger reviews. Amazon, Microsoft and Google are all on that list and were each recipients of new or increased contracts.
This latest report focuses on government contracts awarded to known donors since the East Wing was demolished. It also builds on a report from the non-profit published in November that revealed known donors held $279 billion in government contracts.
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Necessary for national security?
The $400 million project will see the development of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the East Wing of the White House. Trump has argued the development is necessary to host future state events and for national security. The price tag for the project was $200 million when first announced in July 2025.
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The White House has been tight-lipped about donations, choosing to only disclose the names of 21 corporate donors. Trump has claimed the financial gifts will benefit tax payers, though critics argue the lack of transparency creates grounds for corruption.
The report comes as the ballroom continues to face legal and political challenges. A federal judge ordered construction to halt until the project was authorized by Congress. But it’s since been given the greenlight to continue partial construction while the case proceeds. An appeals court is currently hearing the case.
Recently, Senate Republicans axed plans to include $1 billion worth of funding for the ballroom as part of a spending bill. It’s unclear how this loss will impact construction. Democrats have loudly opposed the ballroom, with some Representatives calling it ”unconstitutional,” “illegal,” and a “vanity project.”
And it’s not just politicians who are opposed to the ballroom. An Ipsos poll from April found 56% of respondents were against the project. Only 28% were in support.
Despite backlash, the White House has maintained the ballroom is a necessary addition and Trump has announced plans for additional construction projects in the US capital.
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Rinna Diamantakos is an assigning editor at Moneywise.com. A versatile journalist, she has experience as a writer, editor and producer. Her work has focused on politics, business and financial news.
