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Norton Gets Answers from Acting GSA Administrator on Payments Received from the Trump Hotel; Requests Monthly Financial Reports

July 12, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, at a Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management hearing on oversight of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) pressed GSA Acting Administrator Tim Horne on whether the U.S. government had received its share of profits from the Trump International Hotel, which leases the former Old Post Office building from GSA. A Norton bill, the Old Post Office Building Redevelopment Act of 2008, required the redevelopment of the building and allowed the GSA to lease the property to a private developer. The Trump Organization won the rights to renovate the hotel after a competitive bidding process. The lease signed by the Trump Organization states that 3% of all profits from the hotel in the first 10 years of operation must go to the U.S. government, with increasing percentages thereafter, and that monthly financial reports must be submitted to GSA. In response to Norton's questions, Horne said that GSA had received monthly payments of $250,000 since the hotel opened in October 2016, but could not say how much it had received in profits. After Horne stated he thought the mandate was only for a yearly financial report, Norton pointed out that the lease specifies GSA is to receive monthly financial reports and requested he share those reports with the committee.

"The Trump International Hotel is leased on federal property, and U.S. taxpayers need to know how much of their share in profits they have received and whether the Trump Organization is paying what it owes to U.S. taxpayers," Norton said. "GSA must share with Congress and the American people the monthly financial reports from the Trump Hotel, which were mandated in the lease. I will be following up with Acting Administrator Horne to ensure we receive the documents owed to Congress."