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6h ago

East Wing Razed for $300 Million Ballroom as Donor-Funded Plan Triggers Oversight Demands

Critics seek formal review, full accounting of contributors.

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An excavator works to clear rubble after the East Wing of the White House was demolished on Oct. 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. The demolition is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to build a multimillion-dollar ballroom on the eastern side of the White House.
The demolition of the East Wing of the White House, the location of U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed ballroom is seen from an elevated position on the North side of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 23, 2025. REUTERS/ Andrew Leyden

Overview

  • Satellite and aerial images show the White House East Wing has been fully demolished to clear space for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
  • The White House says the project will be privately funded and released a donor list that includes major corporations and wealthy individuals.
  • Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says demolition did not require submission to the National Capital Planning Commission, with construction plans to be filed later.
  • A group of Senate Democrats led by Elizabeth Warren is demanding detailed donor information and raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
  • At least one legal filing seeks to halt the project, while preservation groups argue customary public review and consultation were bypassed as the price tag climbed to roughly $300 million.