White House East Wing demolition begins for planned "State Ballroom" addition

Demolition activity affecting the East Wing began in mid‑to‑late Oct. 2025 as crews removed portions of the historic façade to make way for a planned addition the White House describes as about 90,000 total square feet. (White House statements and contemporaneous reporting.)

President Trump told reporters on Oct. 22, 2025 that the ballroom project is "about $300 million," higher than prior public estimates reported in Jul.–Oct. 2025 of roughly $200–$250 million. (Presidential remarks reported across outlets.)

The National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter dated Oct. 21, 2025 urging the Administration and the National Park Service to pause demolition until the proposal undergoes public review by agencies such as the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, saying the addition could "overwhelm the White House itself."

The East Wing has traditionally housed offices associated with the First Lady and the visitor entrance for public tours. The administration says historically significant elements have been documented and stored under supervision during construction, but public details on specific room relocations and schedules remained incomplete in initial reporting.

The White House has described the work as privately funded by the president and private donors. Preservation groups and planning agencies have emphasized that funding sources do not remove the need for advisory review and public comment for projects affecting the historic site.