Former US President Donald Trump has moved to reconstitute a key federal design panel, appointing four new members who can now review his contentious proposal for a massive new ballroom at the White House.
New Appointments Revive Stalled Review Process
The fresh appointments to the Commission of Fine Arts were disclosed in legal documents filed as part of an ongoing lawsuit. The legal action has been brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is seeking to stop construction until the project gains approval from both this commission and a second federal review body.
These new members, who include architect James McCrery—the former lead designer for the ballroom project itself—finally provide the commission with the quorum it requires to meet. This development ends a months-long stalemate; the panel had been unable to convene since Trump dismissed six commissioners last autumn.
The Scale and Cost of the Proposed Addition
The planned ballroom is a monumental undertaking. The design calls for a 90,000-square-foot addition that would reach the same height as the existing White House, permanently changing the building's historic public facade. The project, officially dubbed the "East Wing Modernization", carries an estimated price tag of $400 million.
Preparatory work has already begun, with the demolition of the East Wing completed to clear the site. The sheer scale and cost of the proposal have made it a focal point for heritage and conservation groups who argue it would irreversibly alter one of America's most iconic landmarks.
Legal and Heritage Implications
The lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation underscores the high stakes involved. The group insists that no construction should proceed without the full and proper approvals from all mandated federal commissions. The revelation of the new appointments within court papers highlights how the legal and regulatory processes are now deeply intertwined.
With the Commission of Fine Arts now able to convene, the review of the controversial ballroom project is expected to move forward. The outcome will have significant implications not only for the visual landscape of the White House but also for the oversight of major modifications to federally protected historic sites. The situation continues to develop, with all eyes on the commission's next steps and the progress of the historic preservation lawsuit.
