Construction delays and mounting costs continue to plague Barack Obama’s presidential legacy project in Chicago. The latest setback threatens to undermine the very principles the former president claimed to champion throughout his political career.
If this sounds familiar to conservatives who’ve long warned about progressive projects, it should. The Obama Presidential Center, already years behind schedule and hundreds of millions over budget, now faces serious allegations of racial discrimination from one of its black-owned contractors.
Robert McGee, owner of South Side-based firm II in One, has filed a federal lawsuit claiming $40 million in losses due to what he describes as discriminatory treatment by the project’s main engineering firm. The shocking allegations strike at the heart of Obama’s promises about diversity and inclusion.
A pattern of Discrimination Emerges
According to the lawsuit, New York-based Thornton Tomasetti subjected McGee’s company to “excessively rigorous and unnecessary inspection” and burdensome paperwork requirements that “impacted productivity and resulted in millions in losses.”
“In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer of record for the construction of The Obama Presidential Center,” the court filing reads.
McGee’s company claims it faced stricter standards than non-minority contractors, despite Obama’s public pledge to prioritize local minority-owned businesses in the project’s construction.
Mounting Troubles and Delays
Anyone surprised by government-adjacent project cost overruns hasn’t been paying attention. What started as a $500 million project has now ballooned to over $700 million, with completion pushed back to 2026. This set a modern record for the longest gap between a presidency and a library opening.
The Obama Foundation’s response has been notably tepid. Foundation spokeswoman Emily Bittner stated that they have “no reason to believe that Thornton Tomasetti acted with racist intent.” Indeed, this response seems to dismiss McGee’s detailed allegations without addressing the substance of his claims.
These issues emerge against a backdrop of broader troubles for the former president. Obama has recently faced scrutiny over his marriage to Michelle, with the former first lady’s conspicuous absence from several high-profile events raising eyebrows among political observers. Rumors have even been swirling that the Obamas are headed for divorce.
The presidential center’s struggles mirror a pattern seen throughout Obama’s post-presidency: grand promises followed by disappointing execution. The project was meant to showcase his commitment to Chicago’s South Side and create opportunities for minority businesses. Instead, it has become a symbol of bureaucratic delays, cost overruns, and now, alleged discrimination against the very communities it was meant to serve.
Legacy Under Scrutiny
The contrast between Obama’s carefully crafted public image and the reality of his presidential center’s execution raises serious questions. While the former president championed diversity and inclusion from the White House, a black business owner claims he faces discrimination at Obama’s own legacy project.
These developments suggest a troubling disconnect between progressive promises and practical results. The project’s ballooning costs, endless delays, and now racial discrimination claims paint a picture of mismanagement and hypocrisy that conservatives have long warned about in large government-adjacent projects.
Perhaps that’s the real legacy here – another reminder that good intentions and government oversight rarely deliver as promised. As construction continues amid controversy, the question isn’t just when the Obama Presidential Center will open, but whether it can ever live up to its founding promises of equality, opportunity, and progress for all.
Key Takeaways:
- Obama’s $700M presidential center faces a federal discrimination lawsuit from a minority contractor seeking $40M in damages.
- Project costs have exploded from $500M to $700M while the completion date has been pushed to 2026, setting concerning records.
- Black-owned contractor claims discriminatory treatment despite Obama’s public promises of minority business inclusion.
- The pattern of problems mirrors broader concerns about the gap between progressive promises and actual results.
Source: Daily MailÂ
