White House maintenance orders reveal cockroaches, ants and mice infestations

White House maintenance work orders reveal that the historic building’s grounds are plagued with mice, cockroaches and ants. 

NBC 4 Washington, which obtained the hundreds of work orders, reports that there have been a number of requests to deal with vermin in the White House, including mice in the situation room and the White House Navy mess food service area.

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Other requests reported cockroach infestations in at least four parts of the White House, and a colony of ants living in chief of staff John Kelly’s office.

The number of requests for building maintenance and redecorating was similar to past administrations, NBC reports.

Some of the requests were more mundane in nature, including a redecoration of national security adviser H.R. McMaster’s office and a new toilet seat for the Oval Office bathroom. That last request was directed to be completed “after hours please.”

Former General Services Administration (GSA) Inspector General Brian Miller said that maintaining the aging presidential residence is a massive undertaking.

“It’s an enormous job. GSA is assigned to manage that job,” Miller told NBC. “GSA hires contractors and subcontractors for the [maintenance] work. Then the agency must watch over the contractors.”

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