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White House ballroom project renderings released | FOX 5 AT 6AM
New renderings offer a closer look at the White House ballroom project still under consideration.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom won final approval from a key agency on Thursday, days after a federal judge ordered construction to halt.
What we know:
The National Capital Planning Commission, the agency tasked with approving construction on federal property in the Washington region, went ahead with the vote because U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s ruling on Tuesday affects construction activities, not the planning process, commission spokesperson Stephen Staudigl said.
But despite the agency’s approval, the judge’s ruling and the legal fight over the ballroom could stall progress on a legacy project that Trump is racing to see completed before the end of his term in early 2029. It’s among a series of changes the Republican president is planning for the nation’s capital to leave his lasting imprint while he’s still in office.
The vote by the 12-person commission, including three members appointed by Trump, had initially been scheduled for March but was pushed to Thursday because so many people signed up to comment on it at the commission’s meeting. The comments were overwhelmingly opposed to the ballroom.
The backstory:
The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer.
In October, Trump posted on Truth Social to say ground had been broken on the ballroom construction.
"Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!" he wrote.
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!" he continued.
Big picture view:
A 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled space is being added to accommodate 999 people, up from an approximate 200-person capacity in the East Room, which is currently the largest room in the White House.
The White House has been pushing back against criticism of the ballroom plan by noting the history of add-ons to the Executive Mansion during its more than 200-year existence.
A White House spokesperson told Newsweek that President Trump has "full legal authority to modernize, renovate, and beautify" the building.
The Source: This story includes reporting from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 DC reporting.