Former U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed his 26-year-old White House aide, Chamberlain Harris, to the Commission of Fine Arts, placing a loyal supporter on the federal panel tasked with reviewing his ambitious White House ballroom addition.

The Commission of Fine Arts, established in 1909 and historically composed of seasoned architects and designers, advises on the design and aesthetics of major federal construction projects in Washington, D.C. Harris, currently the deputy director of Oval Office operations, is slated to be sworn in at a public meeting where the commission will consider the design for a proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the White House.

Critics of the appointment have raised concerns about Harris’s lack of formal expertise in art, architecture or historic preservation, noting that previous commissioners often had decades of professional experience.

Former members of the commission have said they cannot recall anyone as young or with as little design background being appointed to the board.

Despite these objections, a White House spokesperson described Harris as a “loyal, trusted, and highly respected advisor” who “understands the President’s vision and appreciation of the arts.”

Harris will join the commission as it evaluates updated renderings of the ballroom design, which remain subject to scrutiny from preservationists and planning authorities.

The proposed structure, part of what the administration has termed the “East Wing Modernization,” has been controversial from its inception, with critics calling attention to its scale and potential impact on historic sightlines around the White House.

Legal challenges have also accompanied the project.

A federal judge ordered the White House to seek proper reviews from independent commissions after demolition of an annex of the East Wing began without formal approval.

The Commission of Fine Arts is expected to vote on the ballroom design in its upcoming session, with a March meeting also planned.

Trump supporters have emphasized the importance of the new space for official functions and state events.

The ballroom proposal is emblematic of broader tensions over federal construction and historic preservation in the capital, as well as the Trump administration’s efforts to place allies on influential boards overseeing design and planning work.

With construction anticipated as early as April pending panel approval, Harris’s role on the commission positions her at the centre of a high-profile and politically charged review process.

The panel’s deliberations — and Harris’s contributions — will be closely watched by both supporters and opponents of the project.

As renderings of the ballroom offer clearer views of the design, the Commission of Fine Arts must balance architectural heritage with the president’s stated objectives for expanding and modernizing the White House complex.