Trump-appointed panel approves White House ballroom design

Commission approves Trump's White House ballroom design

The US Commission of Fine Arts has overwhelmingly approved the design for a new ballroom at the White House. The vote clears a major hurdle for President Donald Trump's controversial project.

The panel, which is composed of Trump appointees, signed off after architects made changes to address the commission's concerns. The East Wing of the White House was demolished in October 2025 to make way for the construction.

Ballroom capacity more than doubles

Trump has long argued the White House needs a proper ballroom to host state events and foreign dignitaries. The project's scale has grown significantly since its inception.

The ballroom was initially planned to hold 500 people. The approved design now has a capacity for 1,350 guests.

Trump has promised the building will be "the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world" and stated it will be paid for with privately donated funds.

Historic preservation groups sue to stop project

The project faces fierce legal opposition from historic preservation organizations. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a federal lawsuit to halt construction.

The nonprofit argues the project bypassed legally mandated review processes. "No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever," the group stated in its lawsuit.

The case remains in active litigation. Commission Secretary Thomas Luebke noted the panel received over 2,000 public comments, with over 99% opposing the project.

Trump appointees dominate key votes

The Commission of Fine Arts vote featured notable conflicts. Vice Chairman James McCrery abstained because his architecture firm was initially selected for the project before the administration switched to Shalom Baranes Associates.

Two new Trump-appointed members were sworn in at the start of the meeting, including White House aide Chamberlain Harris. The project's final approval now rests with another panel.

It requires a sign-off from the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission, which will discuss the ballroom in early March. That panel's composition includes:

• Six Trump appointees
• Two Republican members of Congress
• Four other members

Ballroom part of larger construction push

The ballroom is not the only major construction project Trump is pursuing in Washington D.C. He has also announced plans to build a triumphal arch to mark the nation's 250th anniversary.

Commission Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr. defended the ballroom's necessity. "We have to protect the country and the country's guests, and this is a facility that is definitely needed for over 150 years," he said.

The project's ultimate fate now depends on the upcoming planning commission vote and the outcome of the ongoing federal lawsuit.