Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

White House infested with cockroaches, documents reveal

Mice and ants also plague Donald Trump's official residence

Tom Embury-Dennis
Friday 01 December 2017 09:37 GMT
Comments
Cockroach infestations found in at least four parts of Donald Trump’s official residence
Cockroach infestations found in at least four parts of Donald Trump’s official residence (AP)

The White House is plagued with cockroaches, mice and ants, building maintenance files have revealed.

Cockroach infestations were found in at least four parts of Donald Trump’s official residence, while a colony of ants were living in Chief of Staff John Kelly’s office, according to hundreds of work orders obtained by NBC 4 Washington.

Mice were also discovered to be living in the Situation Room – the US President’s crisis management centre – and the White House Navy mess food area.

White House officials sent hundreds of requests to the General Services Administration (GSA), which helps maintain the White House and other government buildings, documents show.

Requests included the redecorating of National Security Adviser HR McMaster’s office and a new toilet seat in a bathroom in the Oval Office.

Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary, had also asked for new furniture and pictures to be hung in his office shortly after Mr Trump’s inauguration.

MSNBC trolls Trump with a montage of Obama wishing everyone a 'Merry Christmas'

General Brian Miller, a former General Services Administration (GSA) inspector, told NBC maintaining the White House was an “enormous job”.

“GSA hires contractors and subcontractors for the work. Then the agency must watch over the contractors."

He added: “They are old buildings. Any of us who have old houses know old houses need a lot of work.”

Despite the large number of requests in 2017, the Obama administration filed a similar number in its last year in office, NBC reports.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in