Democrats Seek to Preserve Records on Trump’s Washington Projects

House Democrats are preparing to seek records on President Donald Trump’s Washington construction projects, after whistleblowers warned that Interior Department documents may be disappearing ahead of congressional scrutiny. The department rejected the allegation, saying it follows federal record-keeping requirements under guidance from its ethics officials.

On November 10, Rep. Jared Huffman, the incoming chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, planned to send preservation letters to Interior and other agencies, among them the federal offices overseeing parks and public lands. The Agriculture Department, along with firms that have contributed to Trump’s projects, including Lockheed Martin and John Deere, will also receive letters. The whistleblowers did not accuse those other recipients of destroying records. All recipients are being asked to certify that they will preserve relevant materials, recover deleted information where possible and halt destruction practices.

Huffman’s committee is preparing to scrutinize projects including a proposed East Potomac golf course and a triumphal arch. Aides expect a prominent hearing early in the new Congress, and the committee is prepared to issue subpoenas if the administration resists. Huffman said the panel might seek court intervention to stop some construction.

Meanwhile, sources involved in approvals say the administration is trying to advance projects before Democrats take control in January. Over the next 60 days, the arch, fencing at Lafayette Square, the golf course and a Tidal Basin plan featuring Trump’s Garden of American Heroes are expected to move through federal approvals or historic-preservation review. Preservationists warn that several efforts are advancing at once. The White House says Trump is moving quickly to pursue his agenda. The day after the midterm elections, he toured the site of the White House ballroom project and put his signature on the last steel beam before workers hoisted it into position.

Whistleblowers Raise Alarm as Trump Pushes Projects Ahead

Whistleblowers’ concerns about Interior Department records put a new urgency behind House Democrats’ effort to scrutinize President Donald Trump’s Washington construction plans. The department denies that it is disposing of documents improperly, but incoming Natural Resources Committee chair Jared Huffman is seeking preservation assurances before Democrats take control in January.

On November 10, Huffman planned to send letters to Interior, its park and public-land agencies, and additional recipients such as the Agriculture Department and companies that donated to Trump’s projects. The whistleblowers did not accuse those other recipients of destroying records. The letters call for relevant records to be preserved, deleted information to be recovered where possible and destruction practices to be suspended.

The panel is preparing to examine projects such as the East Potomac golf course and a triumphal arch. Aides expect an early hearing, and Huffman says the committee may use subpoenas or go to court to stop some projects. That scrutiny matters as the administration seeks to move the arch, Lafayette Square fencing, the golf course and a Tidal Basin plan through approvals or historic-preservation reviews over the next 60 days. Preservationists warn that the projects are advancing simultaneously. The White House defends the pace as necessary to carry out Trump’s agenda. The department says it complies with federal records rules.

Democrats Move to Block Trump Projects Before Taking Power

Before Democrats take control of the House in January, incoming Natural Resources Committee chair Jared Huffman is preparing an aggressive campaign against President Donald Trump’s Washington projects. Huffman says his committee may use subpoenas and litigation, while seeking to stop some construction. The projects are moving through approvals as the administration tries to make progress before the change in congressional control.

On November 10, Huffman planned to send preservation letters to Interior and other federal agencies, as well as companies that donated to the projects. The letters require recipients to certify that they will preserve relevant records, work to recover deleted information and suspend destruction practices. Whistleblowers alleged that Interior was disposing of documents; the department called that claim false and said it follows federal records requirements. The whistleblowers did not accuse the other recipients of destroying documents.

The committee’s likely targets include the proposed East Potomac golf course and triumphal arch. Over the next 60 days, those projects, fencing at Lafayette Square and a Tidal Basin plan with Trump’s Garden of American Heroes are expected to move through federal approvals or historic-preservation review. Aides anticipate an early hearing. Preservationists are concerned by the pace, while the White House says Trump is moving quickly to advance his agenda. The dispute puts congressional oversight and the administration’s construction plans on a collision course.