President Donald Trump's administration is demolishing the White House East Wing to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, despite criticism from preservationists over the lack of federal approvals. The project, now estimated at $300 million and privately funded, has sparked debate on its historical impact and necessity. Officials insist it continues a legacy of presidential renovations, while opponents call for a pause in the process.
The demolition of the White House's East Wing began recently and could be complete as soon as this weekend, according to a White House official. Crews are tearing down structures including the East Garden Room, Family Theater, East Colonnade, and offices, up to the edge of the residence. Initially, Trump stated the project would not interfere with the existing building, but plans changed based on advice from architects and contractors. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained, "The plans changed, and the president heard counsel from the architects and the construction companies who said that in order for this East Wing to be modern and beautiful for many, many years to come... this Phase 1 that we're now in was necessary." The rebuilt wing will include modernized offices, security enhancements to the World War II-era Presidential Emergency Operations Center, and the new ballroom to accommodate large events, addressing Trump's long-standing complaints since at least 2010 about the East Room's 200-person capacity requiring outdoor tents.
The $300 million project, up from an initial $200 million estimate, is funded entirely by private donors, with $200 million secured so far from companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Lockheed Martin, as well as individuals such as Stephen A. Schwarzman and the Winklevoss brothers. The White House dismissed criticism as "manufactured outrage" from "unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies," per a fact sheet. Preservation groups, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, urged a halt until review by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), warning the new structure's scale could overwhelm the White House's classical design.
NCPC Chair Will Scharff, a Trump aide, stated the commission lacks jurisdiction over demolition, while former chair Preston Bryant disagreed, saying the full project, including demolition, requires approval. The White House Historical Association documented the East Wing with scans and preserved artifacts before work started. Senator Josh Hawley defended the project, accusing critics of hypocrisy: "These are the same people who tore down every statue they could get their hands on in the last four years... Now all of a sudden, they’re like, oh, the façade of the East Wing is iconic." This marks the largest White House addition since the 1940s East Wing construction under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, differing from past renovations like Harry Truman's 1948-1952 interior gutting, which received congressional approval.