The White House has begun demolition work for President Donald Trump’s planned $200 million ballroom, despite not yet submitting construction plans to the federal agency that oversees development on federal property.
According to Reuters, demolition began earlier this week, with video showing heavy machinery removing sections of the White House exterior. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which must review new construction, confirmed Tuesday it has not received plans for the 90,000-square-foot project.
White House officials maintain that demolition does not require NCPC approval. Will Scharf, Trump’s appointee to lead the commission and current White House staff secretary, said the panel only reviews new construction, not preparatory demolition.
However, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the White House Tuesday warning that the project must undergo public review, calling the ballroom’s size “overwhelming” and inconsistent with the White House’s classical design.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage,” saying Trump was fulfilling his promise as “builder-in-chief.” She emphasized that the ballroom will not directly connect to the existing structure, saying, “It pays total respect to the existing building.”
Critics and preservationists remain skeptical, citing visible damage to the White House’s outer walls captured in recent photos.
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