New Delhi, June 30 -- The Trump administration secretly awarded a no-bid contract valued a up to $500 million for the construction of a new East Wing ballroom at the White House, according to an investigation by The Washington Post, which found that officials used an unusual contracting mechanism to bypass competitive bidding procedures normally designed to protect taxpayers and ensure transparency.

The newspaper reported that the contract was routed through the Executive Residence, a little-known office within the Executive Office of the President that is exempt from federal requirements obliging most agencies to conduct competitive tenders and publicly disclose contract details. The office typically oversees maintenance, furnishings, e...