Administration wants West Wing remodel money in virus bill

[Nevilledog]

https://apnews.com/589692882c67650b87daeec5765660c5

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants $377 million in the next coronavirus relief bill for a long-delayed modernization of the West Wing, but the timetable for construction is yet to be determined.

The sum, included in the draft aid legislation from Senate Republicans, would also cover a new security screening facility for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House complex.

While lawmakers, including Republicans, have balked at the administration’s request for more than $1 billion in the bill for a new FBI headquarters in Washington, the West Wing plan has drawn relatively little scrutiny. The administration says the White House work would “increase the White House campus’s ability to detect, mitigate and alleviate external security and pandemic threats.”

The West Wing has not had a full modernization since 1933, according to the General Services Administration, which maintains most of the White House complex and would handle the upgrades. Renovations have been planned and delayed by previous administrations — most recently by President Barack Obama in 2013 — in part because no president has wanted to temporarily give up the Oval Office for months or longer to allow for the substantial work to be done.

*snip*

We all know how much it likes to look at fabric swatches.

[aquamarina]

1. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

WTF does this have to do with Covid or economic relief? How the fuck does this help the unemployed or the sick or state and local governments? I am beyond speechless at the absolute disassociation with reality that republicans are operating under.

[Newest Reality]

2. How about an executive violin, too?

Trump should have something to fiddle with while Rome burns.

Insane! "The people have no food or places to live now."

Trump: "Well then, remodel the West Wing!"

[Andy823]

3. Virus bill should be

strictly for helping with the virus, and those affected by the virus, no "pork" for anything else. States need money, local governments need money,"real" small businesses need money. BS like the new FBI building and any other non virus related crap, should not be in this bill!

Millionaires and billionaires "DON'T" need money. They got the vast share in the last package while those who really need it got nothing.

[crickets]

8. +1000000

[woodsprite]

4. This is an election year. I say let the incoming President make the decisions. nt

I wouldn’t trust any work or “upgrades” this administration put into place. And if Joe wins, I think he should reside in Greenville until they can guarantee the security of the White House.

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. I'm sure he has something typically tasteful in mind...

[Ilsa]

10. That is such a ridiculous looking room.

What are those gold panels popping out of the walls towards the front on the lower sides?

[soothsayer]

6. That's kind of him to do for Joe! And a new garden too

[crickets]

7. And everyone knows where that money is really meant to go - right into trumpie's pockets.

This relief bill needs to be about RELIEF - badly needed financial help for the American people during a national crisis that trump has made no real effort to handle. Piss on any of his attempts at last minute grifting. The Biden administration can handle any renovations needed when the time comes.

[sarcasmo]

9. The new West Wing will be called The Tacky Wing.

[Hekate]

11. You could buy a lotta PPE with that kind of money. But mostly, the renovation needs to be AFTER...

...he leaves. The entire structure will have to be swept for bugs and assorted spy materials, and I am sure some infrastructure will have to be stripped out.