Read on PBS NewsWhite House to Submit Plans for Trump's New Ballroom to Federal Commission
The White House is expected to formally submit construction plans for President Donald Trump's proposed new ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission before the end of the year. This submission, coming approximately three months after site preparation began, will initiate the official federal review process for the 90,000-square-foot addition, which is estimated to cost $300 million and is being privately funded. The project has already seen significant developments, including the demolition of the East Wing and the addition of a second architectural firm to the design team.
The White House is poised to take a formal step in the development of a significant new addition to the presidential residence. According to reports, the administration is expected to submit detailed construction plans for President Donald Trump's proposed new ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) in December 2025. This submission will occur roughly three months after initial site preparation and demolition work commenced, marking the transition from conceptual planning to official federal review.
The Submission and Review Process
Will Scharf, the Trump-appointed chairman of the NCPC, indicated at the commission's monthly meeting that he was informed by White House colleagues that the long-awaited plans would be filed before year's end. Scharf, who also serves as a top White House aide, emphasized that the submission would trigger the start of the commission's formal role. "Once plans are submitted, that’s really when the role of this commission, and its professional staff, will begin," he stated, adding that the review would proceed at a "normal and deliberative pace." This process is a standard requirement for any construction or major renovation on federal properties within the Washington, D.C., region.
Project Scope and Design Team Expansion
The proposed ballroom is a substantial undertaking. As announced in the summer of 2025, the 90,000-square-foot structure would nearly double the size of the White House itself and is designed to accommodate up to 999 people. Its estimated cost has risen from an initial $200 million to $300 million. In a related development, the White House confirmed the expansion of the architectural team. Spokesperson Davis Ingle announced that the renowned Washington, D.C., firm led by architect Shalom Baranes has been added to the project. Baranes's firm has an extensive portfolio of work on federal properties, including the Pentagon and Treasury buildings. The initial firm, McCrery Architects, will remain involved as a consultant.
Funding and Construction Timeline
President Trump has asserted that the ballroom will not utilize taxpayer funds, instead being privately financed by what he describes as "patriots," American corporations, and himself. The White House has released a list of 37 donors, which includes cryptocurrency billionaires, sports team owners, major corporations, and supporters of Republican causes. The president has not disclosed his personal financial contribution. The project's accelerated timeline aims for completion before the end of Trump's term in 2029. Significant groundwork has already been laid, with the demolition of the East Wing—formerly housing the First Lady's offices and other staff—completed in October 2025. Daily site preparation has continued since, with construction activity becoming a regular feature of the White House grounds.
Context and Presidential Vision
The drive for a large ballroom stems from President Trump's frequently expressed dissatisfaction with the current White House's event-hosting capabilities. He has criticized the limited capacity of the State Dining Room and East Room, as well as the use of temporary tents on the South Lawn for major events like state dinners. During a recent dinner honoring Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump lamented the need to turn away guests, stating, "I only wish we had about 2,000 more seats... But very soon you’ll be having that, and we’ll have to do another one in about two years from now," alluding to the future ballroom.
The upcoming submission to the NCPC represents a critical juncture for the project. It moves the ballroom from a presidential vision and active construction site into the realm of official federal oversight and regulatory approval. The commission's review will scrutinize the plans for compliance with federal planning guidelines, setting the stage for the next phase of what is poised to be one of the most significant architectural alterations to the White House in modern history.
