When the Government Shuts Down, the Disco Ball Goes Up
Time for a story about priorities. Imagine your house is in a bit of a pickle – maybe the plumbing’s backed up, or the roof needs fixing, and you’ve told the family, “Hey, we gotta tighten our belts for a bit.” But then, you catch your neighbor building a brand new, massive party room in their backyard, funded by… well, let’s get into it.
That’s kind of the situation we’re seeing play out at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. While many of us are wondering what a government shutdown means for our daily lives, and federal workers are feeling the pinch, the White House is apparently too busy laying down some serious dance floor.
The Show Must Go On (Literally)
So, the government shutdown kicked off on a Wednesday, October 1st, remember that? [1] And guess what didn’t stop? The massive expansion project for the White House events space – a grand ballroom, no less [3]. Demolition has already begun to make way for what’s being referred to as Donald Trump’s ballroom [5]. It’s almost like the White House sent out a memo saying, “Government shuts, everyone leaves town, but the ballroom construction? That’s essential!” [4]
Now, you might be thinking, “Who’s paying for this shindig?” Good question! This particular party palace is a hefty $200 million endeavor [1]. The White House has stated that the entire project will be privately funded [6], and Mr. Trump himself has been quoted saying, “I’m paying for it” [6], [7]. So, while the federal coffers might be looking a bit bare, apparently there’s still plenty of cash for a high-class soiree.
Where Does That Leave Everyone Else?
Here’s where it gets a bit less glamorous. While the wrecking balls swing at the Executive Mansion, federal workers and members of the military are reportedly going without pay [5]. It’s a stark contrast, isn’t it? One minute, you’re hearing about essential services grinding to a halt, and the next, there’s news of a colossal ballroom rising from the ashes of a federal budget standoff.
Unsurprisingly, this has raised a few eyebrows on Capitol Hill. Representative Mark Takano from California, for example, introduced a couple of bills specifically aimed at reining in this construction during a government shutdown [2]. It’s almost like the optics of a golden ballroom being built while many are struggling kind of… steps on the message of a principled shutdown, wouldn’t you say? [6], [7]
A Tale of Two Realities
It’s a peculiar situation, isn’t it? We’ve got one hand halting paychecks and closing doors, while the other is pouring concrete and planning grand galas. It just goes to show you, when it comes to “essential services,” sometimes what’s essential to one person is a brand new dance floor, while for others, it’s just getting by. So, while we wait for the government to get back to business, perhaps we can all imagine the first waltz in the new ballroom. Priorities, folks, priorities!
Sources & Footnotes
- https://people.com/white-house-will-continue-ballroom-construction-during-government-shutdown-11822811 ↩
- https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/takano-unveils-bills-to-stop-white-house-ballroom-renovations-during-shutdown-curtail-private-donor-naming-rights ↩
- https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/white-house-ballroom-shutdown/ ↩
- https://www.facebook.com/OfficialForwardParty/posts/for-everyone-worried-about-the-impact-of-the-government-shutdown-dont-worry-cons/830547206167421/ ↩
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DQCtc_IkSGN/ ↩
- https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-ballroom-white-house-gop-shutdown-populism-rcna238036 ↩
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-golden-ballroom-soiree-steps-202803488.html ↩
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