The US Commission of Fine Arts has overwhelmingly approved design plans for President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom at the White House, marking a significant step forward for one of the administration’s most debated construction projects.
The panel, composed largely of Trump appointees, signed off on revised architectural plans after designers addressed earlier concerns raised during preliminary reviews.
"We have to protect the country and the country's guests, and this is a facility that is definitely needed for over 150 years," Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr said.
The East Wing of the White House was demolished last autumn to make way for the ballroom. The removal of the historic section drew both support and sharp criticism from preservationists and members of the public who questioned the scope and review process behind the project.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction, arguing that the project did not comply with legally mandated review procedures designed to protect historic federal properties.
"No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever - not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else," the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in its federal lawsuit.
"And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in."
The case remains in litigation, adding uncertainty to the project timeline even as design approvals advance.
Commission Secretary Thomas Luebke acknowledged widespread public opposition during deliberations, stating the panel had received more than 2,000 public comments and that they were "overwhelmingly in opposition - over 99% to this project".
Despite that resistance, the commission voted to proceed.
Commission Vice Chairman James McCrery abstained from both discussions and the vote. His architecture firm had initially been selected to oversee the project before the administration shifted responsibilities to Shalom Baranes Associates, a Washington-based architectural firm with experience in large federal and commercial projects.
Two newly appointed commission members were sworn in ahead of the meeting, including White House aide Chamberlain Harris, reinforcing the administration’s influence over the panel’s composition.
President Trump has long argued that current White House facilities are insufficient for hosting major state functions and international dignitaries. He has said the building will be "the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world" and will be paid for with money donated from private sources.
Originally designed to accommodate 500 guests, the ballroom’s capacity has since expanded to 1,350 — more than doubling its initial scope. Supporters say the expanded capacity would allow the White House to host large-scale diplomatic events without erecting temporary tents on the South Lawn, a practice used by past administrations.
The ballroom project must still secure approval from the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission, which is expected to discuss the proposal at its next meeting in early March. Six of its members are Trump appointees, while two are Republican members of Congress.
The ballroom is not the only ambitious construction effort underway in the capital. Trump has also announced plans for a triumphal arch to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, a proposal that has sparked separate debates over symbolism, cost and historical precedent.
As legal proceedings continue and planning reviews move forward, the ballroom proposal sits at the intersection of presidential authority, historic preservation law and public opinion — ensuring that the debate surrounding the White House’s future footprint is far from over.
Originally reported by Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, Washington in BBC.
