WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump's $250 million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

What You Need To Know • The White House has started tearing down part of the East Wing to build the ballroom President Donald Trump wants added to the building • Demolition started Monday • Dramatic photos showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground • The Republican president has said he's adding a 90,000-square-foot ballroom because the East Room, the largest room in the White House with an approximately 200-person

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