President Trump's demolition of the White House's East Wing to make room for a $300 million ballroom has raised questions of who has the authority to allow the work.

Since Monday, demolition crews and an excavator have been spotted tearing down part of the historic building. White House officials have said the 90,000-square-foot privately funded ballroom will be completed before President Trump's second term ends in 2029.

For any improvements and changes to the executive mansion, the White House must submit construction plans to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), an administration official told The Hill on Thursday.

But while the NCPC has jurisdiction over construction and renovations to the building, it "does not require permits for demolition, only for vertical construct

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