Congress limits White House construction spending during shutdowns
H.R. 5787 — BALL Act · Filed by Mark Takano (D-CA) · 14 cosponsors · Introduced Oct 17, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill prohibits the federal government from spending money on construction or renovation projects at the White House during a government shutdown (lapse in appropriations), except for work directly related to health or safety. The bill is named the BALL Act (Building Activities Locked-out in Lapse Act) and applies only during periods when Congress has not appropriated funds.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a narrow procedural measure that restricts executive-branch discretion to spend appropriated funds on White House construction during government shutdowns. It is not a substantive policy change, appropriation, or authorization — merely a timing and scope limitation on existing spending authority.
What the text implies
- The bill does not prevent the White House from planning, designing, or contracting for construction during a shutdown — only the expenditure of funds. Work could resume immediately upon appropriations resumption.
- The health-and-safety carve-out is undefined and may be subject to executive interpretation, potentially allowing discretionary spending if framed as safety-related.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill imposes a procedural constraint on executive spending during shutdowns but does not directly benefit or harm ordinary citizens. It may prevent wasteful spending during shutdowns (a modest public good), but the restriction is narrow and applies only to one federal building during a temporary fiscal crisis — the civic impact is marginal either way.