Historic Preservationists Call for Halt on White House East Wing Demolition Amid Concerns

A preservation organization is advocating for a halt in the demolition plans for the East Wing of the White House, intended to make way for a $250 million ballroom proposed by President Trump.

Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, issued a statement on Tuesday, urging the administration and the National Park Service to delay the demolition. She emphasized the need for the proposed ballroom to undergo necessary public review processes as mandated by law.

The idea of demolishing a section of the East Wing to construct the ballroom has stirred significant controversy. Many critics perceive it as an unnecessary alteration of a historic site for what they consider a frivolous project.

Viral images of an excavator beginning the demolition at the White House on Monday sparked widespread criticism. The incident is the latest in a series of concerns over the president’s rapid attempts to reshape Washington, D.C., according to his own vision.

In response to the backlash, the White House dismissed the criticism on Tuesday, labeling it as “manufactured outrage.”

In a press release, the White House alleged that the press was “clutching their pearls” over Trump’s planned ballroom, referring to it as “a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and renovations.”

The Treasury Department told staff not to share images of the demolition, with employees of the department having a front-seat view of the construction.

Quillen on Tuesday expressed worries that the renovation will change the design of the building.

“We acknowledge the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House, but we are deeply concerned that the massing and height of the proposed new construction will overwhelm the White House itself—it is 55,000 square feet—and may also permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House,” Quillen said in the Tuesday statement.

The Hill has reached out to the National Park Service and White House for comment.