The White House has commenced demolition of part of the East Wing to make way for a new ballroom, a project estimated to cost $250 million. The work began on Monday, despite the absence of approval from the federal agency responsible for overseeing such construction projects. Photographs from the scene show construction equipment tearing into the East Wing's façade, leaving debris scattered on the ground. Reporters observed the demolition from a nearby park.

President Donald Trump announced the start of construction via social media, mentioning the work while hosting the 2025 college baseball champions, Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport, in the East Room. "We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically," he said, adding, "It just started today."

The National Capital Planning Commission, which must approve construction and major renovations to government buildings, has not yet signed off on the ballroom plans. Will Scharf, the commission's chairman and a top aide to Trump, stated at a recent meeting that the agency does not oversee demolition or site preparation for federal properties. It remains unclear if the White House has submitted the ballroom plans for review.

The East Wing, built in 1902, serves as the traditional office space for the first lady. It has undergone renovations over the years, including a second story added in 1942. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, confirmed that East Wing offices will be temporarily relocated during construction. She emphasized that "nothing will be torn down" during the modernization process.

Trump has argued that the new ballroom is necessary, as the existing East Room can only accommodate about 200 guests. He stated that the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom will have a capacity of 1,000 people and will be used for large state dinners and events that currently require tents. Trump also expressed his preference for hosting dignitaries in a ballroom rather than in temporary structures on the South Lawn.

The project is being funded privately, with Trump claiming it will incur "zero cost to the American taxpayer." He mentioned that many "generous Patriots" and companies are contributing to the funding. At a recent dinner for donors, Trump revealed that the ballroom's capacity had increased from 650 to 999 guests. Carrier Global Corp. has also offered to donate the air conditioning system for the new ballroom, which the company confirmed.

The demolition and site preparation work began in September, with plans for the ballroom to be completed before Trump’s term ends in January 2029. This project marks the most significant structural change to the White House since the addition of the Truman Balcony in 1948. Trump has also proposed other renovations, including a triumphal arch in Washington, which has been informally referred to as the "Arc de Trump."