President Donald Trump’s $400 million expansion of the White House ballroom will continue despite legal challenges, but no other construction projects are expected in the House of Commons, officials said.
Last week, a federal judge denied the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request to halt construction of Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ornate entertainment space that would have required the demolition of the east wing.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic buildings, objects and spaces, believes the White House circumvented the typical review process for federal construction projects before breaking ground.
The judge allowed the project to move forward but gave the government a month to submit the ballroom proposal to the National Capital Planning Commission.
Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, told CBS News she has “deep concerns” about future projects that don’t adhere to the agreement. A White House official told the news outlet, “There are currently no plans to demolish any buildings.”
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has launched various projects to revamp the decor in his signature style (AFP via Getty Images)
independent The White House has been asked for comment.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has overhauled much of the decor — adding gilded trim to the Oval Office, erecting an 80-foot flagpole on the lawn, laying bricks in the Rose Garden, creating a country club-style patio and installing a “Wall of Fame” with opinionated descriptions of past presidents.
But the decision to demolish the historic east wing to add a large ballroom caused the most controversy.
Officials issued no warning about the sudden demolition of the East Wing, despite Trump’s previous assertions that the new ballroom would not disrupt the existing structure.
The president initially claimed the ballroom would only cost $200 million; however, it is now expected to cost $400 million.
The White House maintains that the president has the authority to renovate 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, just as previous presidents have. Trump has backed the ballroom, saying it will serve as a venue for state dinners and other formal events.
Democratic lawmakers expressed outrage in October when news broke that the White House would demolish the East Wing (Getty Images)
Some lawmakers aren’t convinced. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal has sent letters to potential ballroom donors, who were reportedly invited to dinners for the project, requesting information.
The progressive nonprofit Public Citizen filed a lawsuit this week against the National Park Service and the Interior Department, saying they failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests for information about the ballroom’s construction.
The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the ballroom proposal in early January.
Elsewhere in the capital, meanwhile, Trump remains hopeful of building a triumphal arch, saying earlier this month that the project was now a “major” focus of his administration.
