GSA inspector general finds agency improperly ignored constitutional conflict over Trump hotel lease

The GSA Inspector General concluded in February 2020 that the agency improperly failed to evaluate whether the Trump International Hotel's lease with GSA violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause, which bars federal officeholders from receiving foreign-government payments without congressional consent. The Old Post Office building lease explicitly prohibited elected officials from benefiting — a clause GSA never enforced after Trump took office. GSA's own legal counsel had previously warned the agency to examine the issue.