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HPSCI ‘Very Likely’ to Investigate Corrupt Dealings with Private Sector

Washington, September 28, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today wrote to the National Defense Industrial Association, which represents hundreds of companies with contracts with the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense, with reminder that its members are subject to congressional oversight. The letter follows news that several NDIA companies contributed funding to the White House ballroom project.

“I am concerned that the current Administration has departed from decades of precedent in favor of unethical or even nakedly corrupt dealings with the private sector,” wrote Himes. “At times, the Administration has appeared to inappropriately fuse the government contracting process with the attempted extraction of political or private favors.”

The letter continued, “For example, on July 31, 2025, President Trump announced plans to build a new ballroom on the White House grounds where the East Wing of the White House once stood. The White House said the project would be paid for with private contributions rather than congressionally appropriated funds. Some of the companies publicly identified as having contributed funding to this effort are members of the NDIA and, according to reporting, have significant contracts with the Intelligence Community.

“Going forward, the Committee may seek information in the form of documents, communications, transcribed testimony, and otherwise to understand how corporate contributions to this project were solicited and made, who was involved in those discussions, and whether contributions were related in any way to the goal of obtaining or maintaining government contracts, access to the President or Administration officials, or other benefits. The Committee may also consider whether contributions of this kind create actual or apparent conflicts of interest and national security risks, and whether additional disclosure requirements or other safeguards should be put in place via federal legislation. Finally, the Committee may seek documents and other information to understand other unusual dealings between the White House, senior Administration officials, and NDIA members.”

The full letter is available here.