Trump has been lying about who pays for his White House makeover since before he broke ground.
He said dozens of times that private donations would fund the construction. The Washington Post found his administration stuffing more than $870 million into the White House upkeep budget, including one unidentified $70 million deposit, and we are footing most of the bill.
Most of us grew tired of hearing about the ballroom months ago, but he kept spending until an appeals court ordered construction stopped last week. The $927 million he plans to spend covers only the mansion and grounds. The arch, the gold-leafed statues, and the public golf course he took over are all on separate tabs.
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Treasury exempts U.S. companies from disclosing their true owners and will delete existing records, rolling back a 2021 anti-money-laundering law.
Today’s GovBrief News
Trump claims total U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz and says America may keep it as daily traffic falls to 8 ships from 130.
Source: CBS News
August 12, 2026
Hegseth says Colombia's new president requested joint U.S. military operations against cartels as he urges 19 Latin American nations to abandon the ICC.
Source: The Associated Press
August 12, 2026
DOJ arrests far-right extremism expert Heidi Beirich on financial charges in its case against the Southern Poverty Law Center's KKK informant program.
Source: The Guardian
August 12, 2026
Pirro convenes a rare special grand jury that can issue reports on Trump critics without indictments after Trump's rebuke over the Reflecting Pool dismissal.
Source: The Independent
August 12, 2026
Emily Moreno sues Rep. Max Miller after 400,000 people accessed his posted Dropbox folder containing a nude photo of their 2-year-old daughter.
Source: Courthouse News Service
August 12, 2026
The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation sue Trump over Truth API, arguing the $100,000 monthly feed sells early access to official statements.
Source: UPI
August 12, 2026
Burke Law Group withdraws from the no-bid contract worth up to $150 million to represent migrant children after advocacy groups flagged the Trump-connected award.
Source: KRIV Houston
August 12, 2026
ICE names the third Delaney Hall detainee death after a policy change dropped the rule requiring review of deaths that occur after release.
Source: The Jersey Vindicator
August 12, 2026
DOJ tells the DC Council its request that 10 governors withdraw Guard troops is impotent theatrics as the deployment enters a second year.
Source: The Hill
August 12, 2026
Trump's White House construction will cost at least $927 million with taxpayers covering most of it through a maintenance account, a Post review shows.
Source: The Washington Post [gift link]
August 12, 2026
Fusion centers monitor anti-surveillance TikTok and Instagram accounts and warn police ahead of a national week of protests against license plate readers.
Source: 404 Media
August 12, 2026
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt leaves at the end of August to spend more time with family, opening Trump's most visible spokesperson role.
Source: USA Today
August 12, 2026
Colorado's June law protecting emotional support animals in housing takes effect after HUD stopped enforcing federal accommodation rules for untrained animals.
Source: KMGH Denver
August 12, 2026