President Donald Trump has vehemently denied a New York Times report alleging that his administration secretly awarded a no-bid contract with a massively inflated price tag to one of his favored construction firms. The contract, worth $17.4 million, was for repairing two decades-old fountains in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, which have been inactive for over a decade due to deteriorating equipment.
Report Details and Cost Discrepancy
According to the Times, the Biden administration estimated the work would cost $3.3 million in 2022. However, in January, the Trump administration agreed to pay more than five times that amount to Clark Construction, a Maryland-based firm also building the massive White House ballroom. Stephen Kirk, an independent consultant who calculated the 2022 cost for the National Park Service, told the outlet, “They just took the cover page of my estimate and just added a bunch of money onto it. I didn’t add those extra millions on there.” The higher cost was reportedly due in part to inflation being counted twice.
Contract Award Process
The National Park Service awarded the contract without soliciting competing bids, citing a rarely used “urgency” exception typically reserved for natural disasters or wartime needs. Contracting experts described this as unusual. Unlike the president’s $400 million ballroom, funded by private donors, the fountain repairs are paid with taxpayer dollars. The Interior Department defended the process, with spokesperson Katie Martin stating, “The way this contract was awarded is above board. The urgency is to ensure this project is done well ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.” Clark Construction said, “Our track record reflects the quality of our work and our commitment to integrity. We bid on work we are qualified to deliver and we follow prescribed procurement processes.”
Trump's Response
On Friday, Trump posted a video on Truth Social showing the fountains working with colorful lights, writing, “My Great Honor to have funded this project.” The next day, after the Times story, he fired off a 334-word rebuttal, calling the outlet “failing” and accusing it of misrepresentation. He wrote, “Once again, The Failing New York Times has attempted to grossly mischaracterize what should be hailed as the restoration of Beauty and Grandeur to our Nation’s Capital as something else completely.” He emphasized the goal of completion by July 4th and noted that Clark is “highly respected” and completed the work under budget and ahead of schedule. He concluded, “The New York Times should congratulate us, instead of trying to make us look bad.” The attack came hours before the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
