INV-023 · Money & ethics · Contracts
No-bid Lafayette Park contract for the ballroom builder
Stage 2 of 5: Inquiry · Letters and records requests · Last development 7 May 2026
The National Park Service gave Clark Construction, the firm building the White House ballroom, a no-bid contract to repair Lafayette Park fountains. A 2022 estimate put the job at $3.3 million; the award grew to $17.4 million.
- People
- Clark Construction, National Park Service
- Agencies
- Interior Dept (Park Service)
- Reviewed by
- Senate Democrats, Interior Inspector General (requested)
Money involved
- $17.4 million No-bid Lafayette Park contract (awarded at $11.7M in January, later raised to $17.4M) (Taxpayer money in questioned contracts, loans and funds) [2]
Timeline
Rep. Ritchie Torres asks the Interior Inspector General to investigate. [2]
Sen. Blumenthal asks Clark whether it took above-market federal work in exchange for a lower ballroom fee. Deadline: 15 May 2026. [1]
NPS awards Clark an $11.7M contract under an "urgency" exemption; it is later increased to $17.4M. Sen. Blumenthal's letter says $11.9M was "reportedly" agreed. [2]
Who is acting on it
- Letter Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Asked Clark whether it got above-market work for a lower ballroom fee (4 May 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Asked for an investigation Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY): Asked the Interior inspector general to investigate (7 May 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
Related promises
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "No-bid Lafayette Park contract for the ballroom builder" (INV-023). Last updated 7 May 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-023-no-bid-lafayette-park-contract-for-the-ballroom-builder/
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