Plans to upgrade and expand Delaware’s Legislative Hall have been temporarily suspended. The Democratic leadership in the General Assembly points to increasing state budget constraints and recent federal budget reductions as the main reasons. This halt affects efforts aimed at improving public accessibility, enhancing security features, and increasing office space within the Capitol Complex.

The proposed expansion had generated debate, especially around the inclusion of an underground pedestrian tunnel designed exclusively for legislators and staff.

Democratic leaders released a joint statement on Wednesday, urging the Building Committee to put the project on hold. They emphasized that the limited resources should instead be allocated to essential services and programs.

“Legislative Hall is the People’s House. From its humble Depression-era beginnings, our State Capitol building has served as the home of the Delaware General Assembly for nearly a century.

As Democrats, we believe that our democracy thrives when the greatest number of people are able to participate in it. While we have been looking forward to expanding and modernizing our Capitol Complex to allow for increased public participation, critical public safety enhancements, and additional office space to relieve overcrowding of year-round, full-time staff, we have decided to call on the Building Committee to halt the building expansion project for the time being.

For the first time in several years, our state faces new funding challenges — challenges which have only been exacerbated by cuts from the federal government. Just this week, we learned that the Trump Administration has cut $38 million in public health funding for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.

In the coming months, lawmakers will be faced with tough decisions about how to balance our annual budget. We are committed to funding critical programs that benefit our students, our seniors, our veterans, and every day families. We hope to revisit the expansion project soon.”

Independent of the Legislative Hall expansion, construction of a separately funded parking garage on the Capitol Complex is scheduled to begin later this year.