Warren, Democrats Press Trust for the National Mall on Trump Ballroom Donations, Role in Fundraising Process
Lawmakers call Trust’s previous response “woefully inadequate,” seek additional information
“You owe Congress and the public answers about your role in managing funds for President Trump’s ballroom.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) pressed the Trust for the National Mall on its “woefully inadequate” responses to the lawmakers’ October 2025 letter, pushing for more information on the organization’s role as the fundraising conduit for President Donald Trump’s $400 million ballroom. According to reports, the Trust for the National Mall could earn as much as $10 million in fees for its role in managing the contributions.
“The Trust for the National Mall is a 501(c)(3) chartered non-profit tax-exempt charity and, as such, enjoys substantial taxpayer-subsidized benefits — as do its donors. But these benefits come with responsibilities,” wrote the lawmakers. “You owe Congress and the public answers about your role in managing funds for President Trump’s ballroom.”
In October, the lawmakers pressed President and CEO of the Trust, Catherine Townsend, and National Park Service Comptroller Jessica Bowron about the exact agreements in place regarding the building of the ballroom, the source and amount of donations, whether the donations are tax-deductible charitable deductions, and more.
In the Trust’s response, Townsend confirmed the Trust is “managing the private donations gifted to support the [ballroom] project,” but refused to answer questions regarding the agreements between President Trump, the White House, and the Trust with regard to funding and building the ballroom. Townsend also declined to release details about the donations made to date or any terms and conditions related to each of these donations and directed the Senators’ additional questions about the project to the National Park Service and the White House.
Now, as the ballroom project moves forward, the lawmakers are pressing the Trust for critical information — particularly given press reports indicating that the organization is earning millions of dollars from serving as a pass-through for ballroom funds.
In the Trust’s previous response to the lawmakers, it indicated that it is “not soliciting donations for the Ballroom and has no role in the planning, design, or construction of the new Ballroom.” However, the lawmakers note, the Trust appears to be playing a key role in the project as the organization receiving — and presumably disbursing — the funds to pay for the ballroom. Sen. Warren this week released responses from corporate donors to the ballroom confirming that at least one donor had been solicited for a ballroom donation. The Trust is also reportedly retaining 2.5 percent of each donation made in connection with the ballroom project.
“If the Trust raises $400 million or more for the ballroom — the President’s latest cost estimate — the Trust could collect $10 million in fees, a substantial windfall for the Trust,” wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers highlight relevant donation rules, specifically one barring donations that carry either “an actual [or] an implied commitment to take an action favorable to a donor.” This requires the National Park Service and its philanthropic partners — in this case, the Trust for the National Mall — to avoid any appearance of endorsement, preferential treatment, or influence over federal decision-making.
“Your response fails to provide information about how the Trust is ensuring compliance with these rules while accepting what could be hundreds of millions of dollars in donations for President Trump’s ballroom from corporations that have significant matters pending before federal agencies controlled by the President,” wrote the lawmakers.
“Moreover, while you cite donor confidentiality obligations, that assertion does not relieve the Trust of its responsibility to account for its fee structure, revenue expectations, internal approvals, compliance with applicable policies, communications with the White House, and more — particularly when the Trust may be profiting from its role in a highly politicized and self-enriching project,” the lawmakers added.
This week, Sen. Warren, Representative Dave Min (D-Calif.), and colleagues published responses from giant corporations regarding their donations to the ballroom. Microsoft revealed that the company was solicited for ballroom donations by fundraisers. Meta and Nvidia did not deny possible quid-pro-quo arrangements. Some corporations reported their donations were given to the Trust with the condition that the donation be spent on the ballroom, while Comcast said they donated with no conditions or restrictions.
In November, Sen. Warren and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, introduced the Stop Ballroom Bribery Act to root out apparent bribery and corruption involving President Trump’s ballroom, one of the first pieces of legislation addressing the ballroom that would impose donation restrictions.
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