Summary
- Demolition started on White House East Wing to build Trump ballroom.
- East Wing, home to first lady’s offices, is being dismantled.
- Ballroom planned to be 90,000 sq ft, holding up to 999 guests.
On Monday, demolition workers started tearing down the East Wing's facade that faced the Treasury Department. This area of the structure was home to the White House's calligraphy office and the entryway that guests visiting for tours or special events have long utilized.
During a meeting with Louisiana State University's NCAA and NAIA baseball championship teams and their satellite campus in Shreveport, Louisiana, Trump confirmed the demolition work.
He mentioned that building had "started today" and that the new ballroom would be "a lot of fun."
“You know, we're building right behind us. We're building a ballroom. They've wanted a ballroom for 150 years, and I'm giving that honor to this wonderful place,”
he said.
The president seemed to imply that a "knockout panel" in the East Room would be used to connect the new ballroom to the main White House residence.
The Office of the First Lady and other White House offices, such as the White House Travel Office and the White House Military Office, have historically been located in the East Wing, which was constructed in 1902 and given a second story by then-President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942.
Additionally, it is situated on top of the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a bomb shelter built for Roosevelt during World War II that was famously utilized by then-vice president Dick Cheney during the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
At a ballroom fundraiser event last week, the president informed attendees that the project was fully funded, thanks to contributions from a wide range of businesses, including Coinbase, Apple, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin.
According to him, the new ballroom can accommodate up to 650 people, which is more than three times as many as the East Room can hold.
Some liberal pundits mocked the demolition activity when it was announced.
Legal writer Marcy Wheeler, one such commentator, likened the devastation of the East Wing facade to the harm caused by British troops led by Major General Robert Ross, who during the War of 1812 ordered the Capitol and the White House residence to be set on fire.
“First Trump's mob attacked the Capitol for the first time since 1812. And now Trump is doing more damage to the White House than the British did in 1814,” she said.
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta also weighed in, writing:
“So any president can just start destroying portions of the White House? Is that how this works? “
The Trump-appointed head of the National Capital Planning Commission board stated in September that demolition work is outside the board's purview and can move forward without approval, even though new construction of federal buildings must be approved by the commission.
At an NCPC meeting last month, White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf stated that the board has no control over demolition or site preparation activities.
“What we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build,”
he said.
What legal challenges could halt the demolition?
The East Wing is part of a major civil structure subject to preservation laws. However, legal action could arise from preservation groups seeking to cover the corner, If the demolition or construction is set up to violate major preservation bills or guidelines.
Obliteration and construction bear permits from civil and original authorities, including the National Capital Planning Commission. Challenges could emerge if permits were not duly attained, especially amid the current government shutdown that may have delayed formal reviews.
The construction must comply with environmental laws similar to the National Environmental Policy Act( NEPA). Failure to meet environmental compliance could lead to legal delays or detainments.