Leavitt to leave as White House press secretary

The Trump administration is preparing to allocate upwards of $900 million for construction projects on the White House grounds, according to a report by the Washington Post. The funds will not be obtained directly from Congress, but rather sourced from other federal agencies and private contributors, before being deposited into a designated account earmarked for the White House's routine upkeep, the report adds.

Confirmed contracts and accompanying planning documents suggest that the administration intends to utilize this financial pool for modernization initiatives at the White House, the article continues. Recently, a US federal appeals court directed the administration to halt construction on a $400 million ballroom planned on the site of the White House's previously demolished East Wing, marking a significant setback for the Republican leader in a case scrutinizing his executive power.

Upon request for clarification on the Washington Post's report, a White House spokesperson affirmed that the renovations to the East Wing are fundamentally linked to the security of the president, the White House premises, and the security infrastructure. According to the spokesperson, individuals including President Donald Trump are contributing approximately $400 million towards the ballroom's construction.