White House East Wing Demolished for Planned Ballroom

Administration says historic elements were preserved during demolition

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The White House's East Wing was recently demolished to make way for President Trump's planned ballroom, according to a memo made public on Friday. The memo states that the mansion's eastern facade was "excellently preserved" during the demolition process, with contractors taking precautions to protect the historic White House residence. Some sections of the building were stabilized ahead of time, and vibration and crack movement were monitored. The National Capital Planning Commission, which has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the region, had requested more details about the demolition that began with little advance notice last fall.

Why it matters

The East Wing demolition prompted a public outcry when it began without the independent reviews, congressional approval, and public comment that are typical for even relatively minor modifications to historic buildings in Washington. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt construction of the ballroom, raising concerns about the preservation of the White House's historic architecture and features.

The details

According to the memo, contractors took pains to protect the White House residence during demolition, keeping heavy equipment at a safe distance and removing some pieces by hand. Curators documented and preserved artwork, furniture, and other items of historical significance, including "the East Wing cornerstone and plaque, movie theater furniture, the East Colonnade columns, the Porte-cochere columns, interior wood paneling, chandeliers, historic windows and doors, and other hardware and fixtures." The White House also submitted renderings of the planned ballroom, which shows a massive new building that dwarfs the size of the demolished East Wing and matches the height of the historic White House mansion.

  • The demolition of the East Wing began last fall with little advance notice.
  • The National Capital Planning Commission has requested more details about the demolition and will discuss the project during a March 5 meeting.

The players

Joshua Fisher

Director of the White House Office of Administration, who wrote the memo detailing the demolition and preservation efforts.

National Capital Planning Commission

The agency that has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington, D.C. region, and has requested more details about the East Wing demolition.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The organization that has sued to halt construction of the planned ballroom, raising concerns about the preservation of the White House's historic architecture and features.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to ensure that some of these items will be integrated into the new structure.”

— Joshua Fisher, Director of the White House Office of Administration

What’s next

The National Capital Planning Commission will discuss the White House's planned ballroom project during a March 5 meeting.

The takeaway

The demolition of the White House's East Wing to make way for a new ballroom has raised concerns about the preservation of the historic building's architecture and features, despite the administration's claims that efforts were made to document and preserve significant elements. The project's approval process and impact on the iconic structure will likely continue to be a subject of debate and legal challenges.