East Wing Demolition Begins Amid Approval Questions

Demolition of part of the White House East Wing began on Oct. 20, 2025, as crews using a backhoe tore off sections of the facade and photos and video of the work circulated widely. The administration says the privately funded, roughly $200–$250 million project will build a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom to seat about 999 guests and will not interfere with the historic main White House. Reporters and witnesses observed visible demolition, audible construction noise, tree clearing and staff relocations, and the White House said parts of the renovation had been underway for weeks. Questions remain about regulatory review and formal construction approvals — including whether National Capital Planning Commission sign-off is required — as the commission's offices are closed amid a shutdown. The project has prompted criticism as a potential vanity initiative, even as the White House cites corporate and private donor support.