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Thursday, Feb 19, 2026
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Trump-Allied Commission Fast-Tracks Approval of Controversial White House Ballroom Expansion
Federal fine arts panel unanimously backs president’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom plan despite public opposition and preservation concerns
A federal review body heavily populated with allies of President Donald Trump has unanimously approved the design for his proposed White House ballroom, a major expansion project that has generated widespread public debate and legal challenges.
On February 19, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted to endorse the nearly 90,000-square-foot ballroom that would replace the former East Wing of the White House, adopting a fast-tracked approval that came months after demolition of the historic structure began without prior independent review.
The commission’s members, all appointed by Mr. Trump, voted in favour of the plan and praised the neoclassical design, describing the facility as both beautiful and necessary to provide a permanent venue for state events and large-scale official functions.
The project has been framed by the president as an overdue upgrade to White House event space that will eliminate reliance on temporary tents for hosting visiting dignitaries and major gatherings.
Supporters point to enhanced guest capacity — far exceeding that of the existing East Room — and a design intended to complement the historic mansion’s architecture.
However, the approval has drawn strong opposition from historic preservationists, architectural experts and members of the public.
More than 2,000 comments were submitted to the commission ahead of the vote, with an overwhelming majority opposing the project’s scale, the absence of a full congressional review and what critics describe as an unusually rapid and insular approval process.
Lawsuits have been filed seeking to halt construction, and a federal judge is weighing the legality of proceeding without traditional oversight.
The commission’s endorsement clears the first formal hurdle in a broader review process.
The proposal now moves to the National Capital Planning Commission, also reconstituted with Trump-aligned appointees, for further consideration.
While the administration says the ballroom is privately funded and will cost about four hundred million dollars, questions remain over donor transparency and the long-term implications for the White House’s historic landscape.
On February 19, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted to endorse the nearly 90,000-square-foot ballroom that would replace the former East Wing of the White House, adopting a fast-tracked approval that came months after demolition of the historic structure began without prior independent review.
The commission’s members, all appointed by Mr. Trump, voted in favour of the plan and praised the neoclassical design, describing the facility as both beautiful and necessary to provide a permanent venue for state events and large-scale official functions.
The project has been framed by the president as an overdue upgrade to White House event space that will eliminate reliance on temporary tents for hosting visiting dignitaries and major gatherings.
Supporters point to enhanced guest capacity — far exceeding that of the existing East Room — and a design intended to complement the historic mansion’s architecture.
However, the approval has drawn strong opposition from historic preservationists, architectural experts and members of the public.
More than 2,000 comments were submitted to the commission ahead of the vote, with an overwhelming majority opposing the project’s scale, the absence of a full congressional review and what critics describe as an unusually rapid and insular approval process.
Lawsuits have been filed seeking to halt construction, and a federal judge is weighing the legality of proceeding without traditional oversight.
The commission’s endorsement clears the first formal hurdle in a broader review process.
The proposal now moves to the National Capital Planning Commission, also reconstituted with Trump-aligned appointees, for further consideration.
While the administration says the ballroom is privately funded and will cost about four hundred million dollars, questions remain over donor transparency and the long-term implications for the White House’s historic landscape.
