HR 5787119th CongressIn Committee

BALL Act

Introduced: Oct 17, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-California)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H.R. 5787, introduced in the 119th Congress, would bar the use of any Federal funds for construction or renovation at the White House complex during a lapse in appropriations for a fiscal year. The prohibition applies to the White House itself, the surrounding grounds, and any structure on White House grounds, with a narrow exception: work directly related to health or safety. In other words, during funding gaps when Congress has not enacted annual spending, most White House construction can’t be financed with federal money unless it is needed to address health or safety concerns. The bill is titled the White House Building Activities Locked-out in Lapse Act (BALL Act) and is currently in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Key Points

1Prohibition applies only during a lapse in appropriations for a fiscal year; outside of a funding lapse, normal authority to spend on White House construction would presumably apply.
2The restriction covers construction or renovation on the White House, on White House grounds, or within any structure on White House grounds.
3The only allowed exception is work that is directly related to health or safety.
4The bill specifies that “Federal funds” may not be used, meaning non-federal funds (e.g., private donations or other non-appropriated sources) would not be restricted by this statute unless federal money is involved.
5Short title: “White House Building Activities Locked-out in Lapse Act” (BALL Act). Sponsor list includes a group of House members from the Democratic caucus; the bill was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Federal property management at the White House, including construction managers, contractors, and federal agencies overseeing White House facilities, during funding gaps.Secondary group/area affected- Contractors, subcontractors, and consultants engaged in White House construction or renovation projects, who would face project delays or cancellation during a lapse.Additional impacts- Potential delays or suspension of capital improvement projects at the White House unless they are strictly health or safety-related.- Questions about what constitutes “health or safety” work and how to determine whether a given activity qualifies for the exception.- Operational uncertainties for White House facilities staff and oversight offices during funding gaps.- Possible budgetary and scheduling implications for related agencies if White House construction is funded through multisource arrangements during a lapse.Lapse in appropriations: a period when Congress has not enacted funding for the new fiscal year, resulting in a temporary funding gap. Government agencies typically operate under continuing resolutions or shut down nonessential functions during lapses.Health or safety exception: the bill permits construction if it is directly related to protecting health or safety, but it does not define the scope of that phrase. Ambiguities could arise about whether certain security, accessibility, or infrastructure upgrades fall under this exception.Scope of funds: “no Federal funds may be used” means the prohibition targets federal money only. It does not explicitly address whether privately funded or donated projects could proceed, unless those funds are routed through federal channels.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 23, 2025