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The White House will submit plans for President Trump's 250 million USD ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission, even as demolition work is already underway in the East Wing. While Trump promised the project would not affect existing structures, images of partial demolition raised public concern. The project, funded by Trump and private donors, is exempt from historic preservation review, drawing criticism from heritage experts and politicians. Tourists and officials have questioned the transparency and impact on historic structures, while the East Wing's proximity to a secure presidential facility adds further complexity.
The White House has stated that it will submit construction plans for President Donald Trump's 250 million USD ballroom project to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which oversees federal building construction in Washington and surrounding areas, even though demolition work for the project began earlier this week. Advertisement
The demolition, taking place in the East Wing, has drawn attention from both the public and heritage experts. While Trump had previously assured that the ballroom would not affect the existing White House structure, images showing portions of walls being demolished have raised questions about whether proper review procedures should have been followed before starting work. A White House official said that construction plans would be submitted soon and explained that the NCPC does not oversee demolition, adding that modernization in the East Wing had always been anticipated. The official also noted that the scope and size of the project could change as work progresses.
Trump, who has previously made changes to the Oval Office, Rose Garden, and other parts of the executive mansion, has long planned to build a ballroom for hosting larger events. He has stated that the project will be funded entirely by himself and private donors, avoiding the use of government funds. However, this approach has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and transparency.
Former NCPC commissioner Bryan Green noted that demolition is closely tied to new construction and emphasized that previous White House projects, such as the tennis pavilion built during Trump's first term, underwent formal review with both the NCPC and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Green said following a similar process now could have prevented public surprise and criticism when demolition started unannounced on Monday.
The demolition noise attracted the attention of tourists near the south lawn, with several people stopping to watch excavators tearing down parts of the roof. Many visitors and observers expressed concern about the impact on the historic integrity of the White House. Some Democratic figures, including former first lady and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, criticized the project, emphasizing that the White House belongs to the public, not the president personally.
Questions about jurisdiction remain, as heritage experts point out that the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 normally requires reviews for projects affecting historic buildings. However, the White House, U.S. Capitol, and Supreme Court are exempt from these requirements, meaning Trump's project did not legally require review. Priya Jain, chair of a heritage conservation committee at the Society of Architectural Historians, said that although review was not required, following best practices could have helped avoid public concern.
The U.S. Treasury confirmed that employees were instructed not to share photographs of the site, citing potential risks in revealing sensitive security or structural details. The East Wing, where the demolition is happening, sits above the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a secure underground facility intended for use during emergencies. The exact impact of construction on this facility remains unclear.
Speaking to Republican lawmakers in the Rose Garden, Trump commented on the ongoing demolition, describing the sound of construction as "music to my ears" and associating it with financial investment. He acknowledged that not everyone appreciates the noise but expressed satisfaction with the work in progress.
Source Reuters
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