Democratic lawmakers slam Trump "vanity projects" in shadow hearing

Congressional Democrats held a shadiness proceeding Tuesday to heap scorn connected President Trump's construction projects astir Washington. Republicans did not participate. 

Lawmakers hammered the president for bulldozing norms successful pursuit of his construction goals and imposing his likeness connected buildings, coins and passports. They focused their ire connected what 1 congressman called the president's "vanity projects," similar the East Wing renovation and triumphal arch.

"We are experiencing unprecedented corruption successful plain sight," said witnesser Norm Eisen, a erstwhile morals lawyer for the Obama White House who present represents a antheral accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool. 

"The biggest vandal successful Washington, D.C., is the president of the United States," Rep. Robert Garcia of California added.

The Trump medication has relied connected no-bid contracts successful bid to expedite operation for definite projects similar the White House ballroom and the caller renovation of the Reflecting Pool (which has been drained and is present undergoing repairs). One declaration went to a h2o filtration institution owned by a governmental donor and neighbour of Mr. Trump.

"Government contracts are juicy targets for thieves," said Jon Golinger, a lawyer for left-leaning advocacy radical Public Citizen. So far, nary tribunal has recovered that the medication has violated authorities contracting laws.

The hearing, led by Garcia and Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, felt rally-like astatine times with a supportive assemblage applauding statements from witnesses and members of Congress. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton received a lasting ovation astatine 1 point.

"Ordinarily we would person a presiding serviceman sternly gaveling down the applause, but really there's thing precise refreshing, inspiring astir your approval," Blumenthal remarked. 

Republicans clasp majorities successful some chambers, and without their participation, the proceeding was not portion of authoritative legislature business. Democratic lawmakers sat astatine impermanent tables connected the level of a Senate proceeding country alternatively of the raised dais typically utilized for authoritative proceedings.

Democratic lawmakers sat astatine impermanent tables connected the level of a Senate proceeding country for a shadiness proceeding connected President Trump's operation projects, July 21, 2026. CBS News / Arden Farhi

The White House did not respond to a petition for comment. 

Lawmakers besides highlighted imaginable conflicts of involvement betwixt donors to the president's privately financed projects and the administration's authoritative actions.

"It's 1 man's vanity implicit the priorities of the American people," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois.

Musician Ben Folds, who until aboriginal 2025 held an advisory relation with the National Symphony Orchestra, testified earlier the panel. He said the Kennedy Center was successful a "golden age" earlier Mr. Trump became president of its board. 

Artists canceled shows, the president concisely added his sanction to the building, and the committee announced a program to adjacent the famed performing arts halfway for 2 years for renovations.

"When you politicize art, you've got propaganda," Folds said.

Democrats person aggregate ongoing investigations into the financing and contracts tied to the White House ballroom and different Trump-led projects. They deficiency the quality to compel the medication to disclose details.  

"We volition usage that subpoena powerfulness if we are fortunate capable to person it adjacent year," said Blumenthal.