U.S. President Donald Trump has begun demolishing the East Wing to build a large ballroom inside the White House, fueling a wave of criticism in the United States. Critics say Trump is arbitrarily tearing down a historic building without following proper procedures.
On the 22nd (local time), CNN reported, "Photos showing the demolition of the White House East Wing, where a new ballroom is set to be built, have sparked heated reactions among critics of President Trump," adding, "Architecture and preservation groups are also ramping up their condemnation." The National Trust for Historic Preservation, established by Congress, issued a statement the day before saying, "We urge the administration and the National Park Service (NPS) to halt demolition until the ballroom plan undergoes a lawful public review process."
Starting on the 20th, the White House brought in heavy equipment and began removing the building's exterior walls. The Washington Post (WP) said ACECO, which calls itself "Washington, D.C.'s premier demolition contractor," is handling the work, adding, "There is no evidence the East Wing is protected, and the remaining structure is also likely to be demolished." The New York Times (NYT) likewise reported, citing two senior administration officials, that "the East Wing demolition is expected to be completed by this weekend."
The East Wing, first built in 1902, has long served as the first lady's office and workspace for her staff. In 1942, a second floor was added to conceal the underground bunker, the "Presidential Emergency Operations Center," giving it its current form. For decades, the East Wing has been a main entrance for visitors to the White House and is regarded as one of the most iconic and well-known spaces in the complex.
Trump, who has long dreamed of expanding the White House's ballroom, plans to build a new grand ballroom on the East Wing site that can accommodate up to 999 people. About $250 million (about 360 billion won) will be invested in the project, and the ballroom's total area will be about 90,000 square feet (about 8,800 m²), nearly double the 55,000 square feet (about 5,400 m²) of the main White House building.
On the day construction began, Trump wrote on his social media (SNS) account, "For more than 150 years, every president has wanted a ballroom for large parties and state events," adding, "I am honored to finally realize that long-held aspiration."
The East Wing project is drawing criticism because it has not followed proper procedures. Structural changes to the White House typically require review by several government commissions, but the plan for this ballroom has not even received approval from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which oversees expansion and remodeling of federal government buildings. The White House said it plans to submit the project to the NCPC, but demolition has already begun.
Sarah C. Bronin, a law professor at George Washington University, said tearing down the East Wing violates the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which requires federal agencies to consider effects on historic places. Bronin said, "The shortsighted decision by the Trump administration to begin demolishing part of the White House is a textbook example of why the NHPA was enacted."
Moreover, the East Wing demolition directly contradicts Trump's initial plan for the ballroom. In July, Trump said of the project, "There will be no impact at all on the current East Wing," adding, "We will build in a way that fully respects the existing structure." The ballroom's capacity has increased to 999 from the previously mentioned maximum of 650, and the construction expense has also risen to about three times the amount first announced.
How to finance the project is also contentious. Trump initially said he would cover the costs with his own funds supplemented by private donations, but transparency concerns have arisen because, except for some donors, he has not disclosed the list. In addition, the Treasury Department next to the East Wing instructed employees not to share photos of the demolition site, sparking what critics call a "black-box construction" controversy. The WP reported, "Because areas with direct views of the demolition site are not open to the public, criticism of the Trump administration's lack of transparency is growing."