See all of Trump’s projects as White House construction continues

Ever since President Donald Trump began his second term, one of his priorities has been renovating parts of the White House and Washington, D.C., as the country gears up for its 250th anniversary.

Construction projects like tearing down the White House's East Wing and repainting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have made headlines.

Historical conservationists have condemned the projects, citing the need for formal review of historical structures and congressional approval of such changes. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has defended them, stating that the president wants to renovate the city ahead of the summer celebrations.

Here's a roundup of Trump's renovation projects across Washington, D.C., and their status.

'Triumphal Arch'

President Donald Trump is proposing a 250-foot "Triumphal Arch" near Arlington National Cemetery. Renderings of the proposed structure show it will look similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The monument will be built at Memorial Circle on Columbus Island between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Axios reported in November that the arch could cost about $100 million.

That money is expected to come from a combination of public and private funds. The Commission of Fine Arts has approved the project, the White House told USA TODAY. The project is being considered by the National Capital Planning Commission. The body's first meeting is Thursday, June 4.

Additionally, the Department of the Interior is conducting site surveys, like geotechnical work, which is statutorily required, the White House said, noting that the surveys are standard practice to test the grounds and soil.

Geotechnical and site survey work are required before providing a final proposal. 

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

In April, Trump revealed plans to remodel the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The president had complained about filthy water and a leaking foundation, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.

The Biden administration considered replacing the pool's granite but did not go ahead with the project because it had an estimated cost of $301 million.

Instead of replacing the granite, the Trump administration hired contractors to resurface the bottom as they would an industrial-grade pool for $1.5 million.

The basin is being painted to reflect the blue in the American flag.

On Tuesday, June 2, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on X that the landmark will be ready by Independence Day.

White House ballroom

Trump first announced the proposed White House ballroom in July 2025. In October, he demolished the East Wing to make room for the 90,000-square-foot structure.

The cost of the project has risen from $200 million to $400 million since the announcement.

Moreover, the Trump administration is being sued over the construction.

In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the administration and several agencies involved in the project, according to previous USA TODAY reporting. The groups argued that Trump should have sought congressional approval before the demolition.

Meanwhile, administration attorneys claim the president didn't need approval because the project is not being funded with taxpayer dollars but with private donations.

A federal judge ordered the project to be stopped in March. That was followed by an order on Thursday that blocked the Trump administration from above-ground construction work on the project.

The latest development in the construction is a rooftop "Drone Port" that was revealed by Trump in a Truth Social post on Sunday, May 31. The president said the "Drone Port" is required to defend Washington, D.C., from threats.

Whether or not the project comes to fruition remains to be seen.

The project is in litigation at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the White House told USA TODAY. There's a hearing before a panel of the Circuit Court scheduled for June 5. The construction site remains active.

Kennedy Center

Last year, the president embarked on a refurbishment of the Kennedy Center. The renovations included painting columns, refurbishing marble, replacing chairs and renovating stages, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.

On Friday, May 29, a federal judge ruled that Trump had illegally added his name to the Kennedy Center. The judge also blocked the administration from closing the venue for renovations.

In a Truth Social post about the decision, Trump said millions of dollars of material, marble, furniture, steel, air conditioning, heating and much else was ordered or soon to be ordered, with the end result being a "structure that would no longer be in a potential state of collapse, rusted, rotted, and rat and bug infested."

A UFC area

In late May, the White House installed an Ultimate Fighting Championship arena on the South Lawn. Though temporary, the president has discussed keeping the stage, according to USA TODAY reporting.

"I'm looking at it, and maybe we'll never, ever take it down," Trump said in a June 2 TikTok.

The arena was put up for fights scheduled for June 14, Trump's 80th birthday and Flag Day.

The structure is 90 feet tall and will support lighting and audio and video boards. The arena features an octagon-shaped cage where the UFC fighters will compete.

The structure is estimated to hold 5,000 people.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected].