The Old Post Office Tower that looms over the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., will reopen by Friday thanks to federal funding, according to a report.
The tower was closed to visitors due to the Dec. 22 shutdown as the historic site is managed by the National Park Service, one of the many departments and agencies affected by the fight over funding for President Trump’s southern border wall.
E&E News reported Wednesday that visitors will again be able to tour the tower and look out over the capital from its viewing platform after the General Services Administration, which owns the building, allocated money for its reopening. A spokesperson for the agency did not respond to E&E News’ request to outline the cost of operating the facility, but pushed back on the report to the Washington Examiner.
“The referenced facility remains open as the funds needed to operate the Old Post Office tower are not associated with the current fiscal year’s (FY 2019) appropriations bill,” they said.
GSA agreed in 2013 to lease the Old Post Office Building to the Trump Organization for 60 years, so the company could renovate the city’s former main General Post Office and turn it into a hotel. Under the agreement, however, the Trump Organization is responsible for the tower.
But pursuant to NPS policy, the NPS can negotiate arrangements with “local governments, cooperating associations and/or other third parties” to continue “specified visitor services.” A company representative did not answer the outlet’s inquiries into whether the Trump Organization offered to pay for the site to be reopened.
The tower will host the Washington Ringing Society, which will ring the 10 Congress bells Friday to mark the start of the 116th Congress.
