By Elsie Kamsiyochi
A federal arts panel dominated by appointees of President Donald Trump has overwhelmingly approved plans for a new ballroom at the White House, marking a significant step forward for one of the most contentious construction projects ever proposed at the historic executive mansion.
The approval was granted by the US Commission of Fine Arts, which signed off on revised architectural designs after project planners made changes to address concerns previously raised by commissioners.
The decision comes months after the demolition of the White House’s East Wing in October 2025, a move that sparked fierce debate among preservationists, architects, and members of the public.
Commission chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr defended the decision, framing the ballroom as a long-term necessity rather than a vanity project.
“We have to protect the country and the country’s guests,” he said during the meeting. “This is a facility that is definitely needed — not just now, but for over 150 years.”
President Trump has repeatedly argued that the White House lacks a suitably large and secure venue to host major national ceremonies, state dinners, and gatherings of foreign dignitaries.
According to the administration, existing rooms are outdated and insufficient for the scale of modern diplomatic and governmental events.
Trump has described the planned structure as “the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world,” emphasizing that it will be funded entirely through private donations rather than taxpayer money.
While the project was initially pitched as a 500-person venue, revised plans have expanded its capacity dramatically to accommodate up to 1,350 guests.
Despite the commission’s approval, the project remains deeply controversial. Historic preservation groups and segments of the public argue that demolishing part of the White House sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the building’s historical integrity.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt construction, contending that the administration failed to comply with legally mandated review and public consultation processes.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else,” the organization said in its legal filing.
“And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.”
That lawsuit remains active, even as the project advances through regulatory channels. Commission Secretary Thomas Luebke acknowledged the depth of public opposition, noting that the panel had received more than 2,000 public comments.
“They were overwhelmingly in opposition — over 99% opposed to this project,” he said.
Adding another layer of complexity, the commission’s vice chairman, James McCrery, recused himself from both discussion and voting.
His architecture firm had initially been selected to design the ballroom, though the administration later switched firms, awarding the project to Shalom Baranes.
The meeting also marked a shift in the commission’s makeup. Two new Trump-appointed members were sworn in at the outset, including Chamberlain Harris, a White House aide, further fueling criticism that the panel lacks independence on projects tied directly to the president.
While the Commission of Fine Arts approval represents a major milestone, the ballroom still requires authorization from the National Capital Planning Commission, a 12-member body that oversees development in the Washington, DC area.
That panel is scheduled to take up the issue in early March. Six of its members are Trump appointees, with two additional seats held by Republicans from the US Congress, making its eventual decision a focal point for both supporters and opponents of the project.
The ballroom is only one element of a broader construction vision Trump has unveiled for the nation’s capital.
He has also announced plans for a large triumphal arch to commemorate the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary — a proposal that, like the ballroom, has drawn both enthusiasm and sharp criticism.
As legal challenges continue and further approvals loom, the White House ballroom project has become a flashpoint in a larger debate over presidential power, historic preservation, and how far a sitting president can go in reshaping one of the most symbolically important buildings in the world.
Source BBC
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