A major legal row has erupted over the state of the White House's iconic Rose Garden, with a landscaping contractor demanding a staggering $2 million from the US government.
The dispute centres on the controversial 2020 renovation overseen by the Trump administration, which the firm claims caused catastrophic and irreversible damage to the historic lawn.
The Root of the Problem
According to court documents, the contractor alleges that the extensive construction work for the high-profile makeover – championed by former First Lady Melania Trump – "destroyed the turf" they had been paid to maintain.
The heart of the lawsuit claims the government is in breach of contract, failing to account for the immense damage caused by the installation of new stone pathways, electrical systems, and other structural changes during the renovation.
A Landscape of Discord
The firm had initially been awarded a lucrative $270,000 annual contract for the upkeep of the prestigious garden. However, they argue the renovation project turned their maintenance role into an impossible task.
They contend that the construction work:
- Severely compacted the soil, preventing healthy grass growth
- Ruined the intricate irrigation systems
- Left the famed lawn in a state beyond repair
The government, however, is pushing back. Legal representatives for the administration have filed a motion to dismiss the case, labelling the multi-million dollar claim as "excessive" and "not justified."
A Political Garden Party
The Rose Garden renovation was always a politically charged project. Unveiled in August 2020, it drew both praise and intense scrutiny, with critics accusing it of erasing the garden's history for a more minimalist, modern look.
This new lawsuit peels back another layer, revealing the bitter financial and contractual disputes that have been growing beneath the surface long after the cameras left.
The case continues, with the beauty of the world's most famous garden hanging in the balance alongside a multi-million dollar demand.
