Some reporters watched from a park near the Treasury Department, which is next to the East Wing.
It was unclear whether the White House had submitted the ballroom plans for the agency’s review and approval.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment and the commission’s offices are closed because of the government shutdown.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said those East Wing offices will be temporarily relocated during construction and that wing of the building will be modernized and renovated.
The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has yet to do so.
WASHINGTON, AP — The White House began demolishing a portion of the East Wing, the first lady’s customary headquarters, on Monday in order to construct President Donald Trump’s $250 million ballroom, even though the federal agency that manages such projects had not given its approval for the project’s construction.
Construction equipment was seen tearing into the East Wing façade, and shots of the demolition process showed windows and other building components in ruins on the ground. A few reporters observed from a park close to the East Wing, which is adjacent to the Treasury Department.
READ MORE: The White House reports that work on a $200 million ballroom will start in September.
While hosting 2025 college baseball champions Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room, Trump mentioned the construction and announced the start of construction in a social media post. He mentioned that the work was taking place “directly behind us.”. “”.
He added, “We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically. It just started today.”. “.”.
Even though the National Capital Planning Commission, which authorizes construction and significant renovations to government buildings in the Washington region, has not yet given its approval, the White House has proceeded with the enormous construction project.
During the commission’s September meeting, its chairman, Will Scharf, a top Trump aide and White House staff secretary, stated that the agency has no authority to remove buildings from federal property or prepare sites for new construction.
Scharf stated last month that “what we deal with is basically construction, vertical build.”.
It was unclear if the White House had sent the ballroom plans to the agency for approval or review. A request for comment from the White House was not answered, and due to the government shutdown, the commission’s offices are closed.
The ballroom would not impede the mansion itself, the Republican president had stated when the project was first announced in July.
Regarding the White House, he stated, “It will be close to it without touching it and pays complete respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”.
The first lady’s offices are among the many located in the East Wing. Originally constructed in 1902, the White House claims that it has undergone renovations over the years, including the addition of a second story in 1942.
Those East Wing offices will be temporarily moved while that wing of the building is being modernized and renovated, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
When Leavitt announced the project in July, she stated, “Nothing will be torn down.”.
The East Room, the largest room in the White House with a capacity of about 200 people, is too small, Trump claims, and he is adding the enormous 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled ballroom because presidents have wanted one for 150 years. The idea of holding presidents, prime ministers, kings, and queens in pavilions on the South Lawn has also been expressed as something he dislikes.
In the announcement on social media, Trump claimed that the project would be finished “at no cost to the American taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.”. “”.
The Executive Mansion’s ballroom will dwarf the house itself and be the largest structural alteration since the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn was added in 1948.
According to Trump, the project has expanded to accommodate 999 people at a dinner he hosted last week for some of the affluent business executives contributing to the $250 million construction cost. 650 people could be seated at the announcement in July.
The White House has yet to reveal who has contributed funds to the construction of the ballroom, despite its stated intention to do so.
Additionally, Trump stated at the event last week that the CEO of Carrier Global Corp. offered to donate the ballroom’s air conditioning system. The company is a prominent manufacturer of HVAC systems.
On Monday, Carrier told The Associated Press that it had succeeded. There was no instant cost estimate available.
“Carrier is proud to offer a top-notch, energy-efficient HVAC system for the White House’s new iconic ballroom, providing comfort to dignitaries and distinguished guests in this historic setting for years to come,” the company said in an email statement.
In September, the south grounds began to be cleared of trees and other site preparations for the construction. According to plans, the ballroom should be completed by January 2029, before Trump’s term ends.
