Trump’s WH rushed to install chandeliers before his 80th birthday under $50K no-bid contract: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: The White House reportedly arranged an urgent installation of chandeliers in the West Wing ahead of President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations in June, according to contracting documents reported by The Washington Sun.
The work was awarded without competitive bidding to Virginia-based contractor Agile1Tech, with officials citing that the deadline for anniversary events and the technical challenges of installing heavy fixtures in the historic building. The initial $22,000 contract was later expanded by $27,600 to cover three additional chandeliers, bringing the total to nearly $50,000.
White House cites urgent deadline for chandelier installation
According to the report, a contracting document dated June 5 described the work as urgent and specified that the chandeliers had to be installed over the following weekend, ahead of events marking the United States’ 250th anniversary and Trump’s birthday. “This must happen over the weekend as these must be in place before the June anniversary events,” the document read.
Trump’s 80th birthday fell on June 14, the same evening as a UFC event held on the White House lawn. The president spent the June 6-7 weekend away from the White House at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The General Services Administration reportedly selected Agile1Tech to carry out the installation. The company had recently completed work on a viewing and gaming room for the UFC event, according to the contracting documents.
Officials justified the decision not to invite competing bids by citing the chandeliers’ weight, the building’s historic structure and the limited number of contractors considered capable of completing the work within the deadline. “Agile1Tech is familiar with how to brace these chandeliers in a structure that may not support such weight,” the document stated.
It added that “based on the results of market research, the government determined that a limited number of vendors were available, but none possessed the capability to properly install a complex chandelier in a historic environment.”
The initial contract covered the installation of the fixtures for $22,000. However according to the report, on August 27, the contract was increased by $27,600 to cover “additional 3 chandeliers,” bringing the total to $49,600.
Chandeliers add to Trump’s wider White House renovation programme
The installation forms part of a broader series of changes Trump has made to the White House during his second term, including extensive gold decorations and picture frames in the Oval Office. The president has also added gold lettering reading “The Oval Office” to the exterior of the room.
Other changes include converting the Rose Garden into a paved patio resembling the outdoor space at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and adding a helipad to the White House grounds. Trump has also installed a display featuring portraits of former presidents, including depictions that have drawn criticism for mocking Democratic predecessors.
The most extensive project is the construction of a proposed $330 million ballroom, which required the demolition of the White House East Wing. However, the president has repeatedly noted that private donors have covered much of the project’s cost, and construction has continued alongside other refurbishment work.
