August 31, 2026

The White House is renovating one of the most exclusive bowling alleys in America – a favorite rehab target for presidents of both parties that’s at least once blown up in the president’s face.

On July 28, the General Services Administration, under the auspices of the Executive Office of the President, awarded a nearly $253,000 contract for lighting work on the two-lane Harry S. Truman Bowling Alley, according to public contract awards reviewed by West Wing Playbook. And on Aug. 18, GSA awarded another contract to the same contractor, Charles Mann Enterprises, for $8,800 in escort services – essentially accompanying outside workers through secure areas – tied to the bowling alley project.

The White House and GSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The last time the GSA went near the bowling alley, which is reserved for the use of White House aides and their guests, the project didn’t survive a news cycle. In 2014, under former President Barack Obama, the GSA proposed a complete rebuild of the bowling alley’s lanes, which it described at the time as “irreparable.”

An hour and a half after Time Magazine broke the story about the bowling alley reno, GSA canceled the project, amid a Republican backlash over whether it was a good use of taxpayer money. Reince Priebus, then Republican National Committee chair, posted a list of funding needs with items like the economy and securing the border crossed out. “Repair WH bowling alley,” meanwhile, was accompanied by a checkmark and a link to the story about the project.

The Republican-controlled House at the time even adopted an amendment to prohibit funding to renovate the White House bowling alley. Former Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.), who introduced the amendment, likened upgrading the bowling alley to ice cream – constituting a “want,” not a “need.”