Trump's White House ballroom approved by planning commission

WASHINGTON − A federal planning agency approved President Donald Trump’s building plans for a $400 million White House ballroom, although the action came two days after a federal judge temporarily halted the project.

The National Capital Planning Commission, which is headed by Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary and a former personal lawyer for Trump, voted 9-1 to approve the project, with two members voting "present" April 2.

Trump welcomed the news, thanking the commissioners and staff of the NCPC.

“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, and even, in the Modern Day, Inaugurations,” he wrote in a Truth Social post. “I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project, which is on time and under budget, underway. When completed, it will be the Greatest and Most Beautiful Ballroom of its kind anywhere in the World, and a fabulous complement to our Beautiful and Storied White House!”

The public meeting came after a commission hearing March 5 was moved online because Trump’s proposal was deluged with more than 35,000 written comments and 104 people seeking to testify. Most comments were negative.

Ballroom project 'just too large': Mendelson

Supporters on the commission included Trump appointees William Scharf, White House staff secretary; Stuart Levenbach, associate director for natural resources, energy, science and water at the White House Office of Management and Budget; and Michael Blair, White House deputy chief of staff.

Scharf rebutted criticism that Trump was building the ballroom for his own use because it will be completed near the end of his second term.

“The real beneficiaries will be future presidents of all stripes and dispositions, and their administrations, as well as of course as the American people,” Scharf said. “The ballroom as proposed, while large, fits neatly into the White House complex, nestled as it is between the executive mansion and the much larger Treasury building.”

Scharf said every modification to the White House was “roundly and viciously condemned in its day,” including the north and south porticos, the West Wing and the Truman balcony.

“I believe, too, in time, the ballroom will be celebrated as a crucial and contributing aspect of the White House complex,” Scharf said.

Phil Mendelson, chair of the D.C. City Council, criticized the project for its height and size. He argued if more time was taken in planning, a ballroom to hold 1,000 people for dinner could be shorter with a smaller footprint.

“It’s just too large,” Mendelson said of Trump’s plan.

Two commission members, Arrington Dixon and Linda Argo, voted present. Argo had said she is aligned with Mendelson.

The vote was the last step of the commission’s review process, according to spokesperson Stephen Staudigl.

A White House official granted anonymity to speak freely told USA TODAY that "nothing about the injunction prevents a planning commission from considering the aesthetic and architectural value of the project."

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon imposed a temporary halt on the project unless Congress approves it. But the Trump administration promptly appealed.

Trump called the decision “WRONG” on social media by arguing that congressional approval is never needed for White House projects and because it is being funded with private donations.

The project, which was announced by the White House in July, became a highly controversial undertaking when the East Wing was suddenly demolished to accommodate the 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

Fundraising for the project through private donations also drew controversy. The White House has released a list of 37 donors that includes companies like Amazon, Apple, Caterpillar, Coinbase, Google, Comcast, HP, Lockheed Martin, Meta, Microsoft, T-Mobile and Union Pacific Railroad, it but hasn't specified the amount contributed. Some of the companies have business with the federal government.

Judge blocked ballroom without congressional approval

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit on Dec. 12 asking the court to halt further construction until the plans go through a congressional approval and legally mandated review process. The project's size would "overwhelm the White House itself," the preservation group said.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon's ruling on March 31 questioned the “convoluted funding scheme” and noted that if congressional approval had been sought, it could “retain its authority over the nation’s property and its oversight over the government’s spending.”

“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!,” wrote Leon in a 35-page opinion.

The ruling stops any actions "including but not limited to any further demolition, site preparation work, landscape alteration, excavation, foundation work, or other construction or related work," other than moves that are "strictly necessary" to ensure security in the area.

The Trump administration promptly filed an appeal.

Leon’s order takes effect April 14 — two weeks from the date it was issued. The White House team is required to file a report informing the court of the status of its compliance within 21 days after the order takes effect.

The ballroom plans are in the final stages of the design approval process, with the Commission of Fine Arts approving the design on Feb. 27 and the National Capital Planning Commission expected to approve it on April 2. However, even if the NCPC approves the plan, the project can’t move forward due to Leon’s ruling.

When the White House first released the plans for the ballroom, Trump told reporters that the addition would be “built over on the east side and it will be beautiful.”

“It'll have views of the Washington Monument. It won't interfere with the current building,” he said. “It'll be near it but not touching it and pay total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of.”

But plans changed.

The loss of the historical building drew criticism from the public and former residents, including former Democratic first ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.

Clinton posted a picture of the torn-down facade of the East Wing with the caption on X: "lt's not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it."

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal