Overview
- Photographs published Wednesday show crews taking apart parts of the new granite helipad on the South Lawn, including removal of the 100‑foot presidential seal and letters, after President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the pad’s appearance and levelness.
- The helipad was prompted by damage from newer VH‑92A helicopters that direct exhaust downward and scorched grass, so officials began building a permanent granite landing surface in June to protect the lawn.
- Contractor Clark Construction has worked around the clock under an accelerated July demand to finish by Sept. 17, a rush tied to a planned state visit that reporters say added about $875,000 to the job.
- Trump has said Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, will pay the roughly $5–6 million cost but it is unclear whether the company will cover extra expenses from the redo or the acceleration.
- The episode intensifies scrutiny of oversight and procurement after the work began without a public competitive bid and follows other high‑profile White House renovations that attracted legal and workmanship questions, and Marine One is using the Ellipse as a temporary landing site.