National Mall trust avoids most lawmaker questions about White House ballroom project

Source: NBC News

Nov. 7, 2025, 6:03 PM EST


WASHINGTON — Hours before the deadline Friday, the Trust for the National Mall mostly evaded questions in response to a letter from Democratic senators concerned about President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. Nor did the trust, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., provide the documentation that the lawmakers had requested.

NBC News previously reported that the trust is stewarding the millions of dollars in private donations paying for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, though in the past it has focused on smaller, nonpartisan projects like preserving Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossom trees and renovating horse stables on the National Mall.

The Democratic lawmakers had expressed deep skepticism about the organization’s role as a conduit for the private donations bankrolling the project.

In her reply, trust President Catherine Townsend laid out previously reported information about the group’s role in funneling donations to the Trump administration for the ballroom addition — which polling shows most people oppose. The letter gave the trust until Friday to respond. The senators also sent the letter to the National Park Service, an arm of the Trump administration. The park service press office did not respond to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trust-national-mall-avoids-lawmaker-questions-white-house-ballroom-pro-rcna242399