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

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A preservation organization is urging a temporary halt in the planned demolition of the White House’s East Wing, where a $250 million ballroom is proposed by President Trump.

Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, released a statement on Tuesday, saying, “We respectfully urge the Administration and the National Park Service to pause demolition until plans for the proposed ballroom undergo the legally required public review processes.”

The proposed ballroom has sparked controversy as demolition work begins. Critics argue that altering a significant historical site for what they perceive as a lavish personal project is inappropriate.

Photos of an excavator beginning to dismantle a section of the White House went viral on Monday, sparking widespread outrage and adding fuel to the criticism of President Trump’s efforts to rapidly reshape Washington, D.C., to align with his vision.

The White House rebuffed criticism of the recent demolition of part of the East Wing on Tuesday, calling it “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.

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

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

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