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Cost controversy: While Trump claimed a $1.5–$2 million price, federal records show over $14.8 million in contracts for the project, sparking criticism over taxpayer spending....
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The Legal Violation
Federal agencies are bound by the
Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), which requires full and open competition for government contracts. To bypass this, the government used a rare
"urgency" exception (usually reserved for natural disasters or war) to justify the no-bid award. Watchdogs, lawmakers, and preservationists filed lawsuits challenging this, arguing that using an emergency loophole for a non-emergency beautification project violates the law. Additionally, an internal Park Service review flagged the contractor's profit margin (20%) as inflated and excessive compared to federal norms (6%-12%), raising further legal scrutiny over the misuse of funds. [
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