Delaware Senate and House leaders want to pause Legislative Hall expansion project
Plans to expand Delaware's Statehouse might have to wait.
On Wednesday, Democrat leaders from the Delaware General Assembly called on the building committee overseeing the project to cease the expansion project on Legislative Hall in Dover 'for the time being.'
In a joint statement detailing their decision, Democratic state House and Senate leadership said that, while they were looking forward to updating the Statehouse to help increase public engagement, provide additional office space and enhance public safety, the First State 'currently faces new funding challenges' further heightened by the federal government.
Legislative Hall has served as the state's Capitol for over nine decades and was last updated in the 1990s.
Related: Delaware joins lawsuit to stop RFK Jr. from cutting federal health grants
Expansion plans included adding four large meeting rooms and relocating the entrance from the west to the east side of the building.
Leadership added that the General Assembly is 'committed to funding critical programs' that support First State families, senior residents, students and veterans and hopes to revisit the project in the future.
Despite halting the work at Legislative Hall, plans to construct an adjacent parking garage, which 'has already been funded,' will continue, according to the release.
Construction for the garage is slated to begin later this year.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Legislative Hall expansion project to be paused
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