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Sep 24, 2026 Trump bypassed federal building safety codes for a White House ballroom project Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The administration routed a $300 million ballroom project through an office exempt from federal building codes after the original architect resigned over fire-safety concerns, and the president said "I am the code."
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- White House routed ballroom project through exempt office to avoid building codes — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration signed contracts putting the American taxpayer on the hook for more than $300 million for a White House ballroom project. James McCrery II, the first architect on the project, resigned when Trump insisted on a design that did not meet fire codes. Normally, White House construction would be managed by federal agencies required by law to comply with building safety codes, but White House officials routed the ballroom through the tiny Executive Residence office, which is exempt from rules because it is not a federal agency. McCrery warned that Trump's design lacked sufficient emergency exits and fire containment measures. When McCrery raised these concerns, Trump responded: "I am the code."
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 88 – 2026-09-19–2026-09-25
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