White House Ballroom Proposal Approved by US Commission of Fine Arts

The $200 million project will replace the former East Wing and accommodate up to 999 guests.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved a proposal for a new White House ballroom, advancing a major renovation project at the executive residence. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom is intended to replace the former East Wing and will be funded entirely by private donors. The proposal will next be considered by the National Capital Planning Commission.

Why it matters

The new ballroom would allow the White House to host larger-scale events such as state dinners, which are currently limited by the capacity of existing spaces like the East Room. However, the project has drawn legal opposition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction.

The details

Six of the seven commissioners voted to approve the ballroom proposal, which was originally designed by Commissioner James McCrery. The design depicts a ballroom complex intended to match the scale and height of the White House. The new structure will replace the former East Wing, which was demolished in October. The $200 million project is expected to accommodate up to 999 guests, far exceeding the 200-person capacity of the current East Room.

  • On February 19, 2026, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the ballroom proposal.
  • The proposal will next be considered by the National Capital Planning Commission on March 5, 2026.
  • The former East Wing was demolished in October 2025.

The players

U.S. Commission of Fine Arts

A federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and government agencies on matters of design and aesthetics, including proposals for renovations to the White House.

National Capital Planning Commission

The federal agency that oversees major construction and renovation projects involving federal buildings in the Washington, D.C. area.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

A nonprofit organization that has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction of the new White House ballroom, arguing that it will destroy a historic part of the property.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who originally proposed the White House ballroom renovation project.

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What’s next

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to review the ballroom project on March 5, 2026.

The takeaway

The approval of the White House ballroom proposal by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts represents a significant step forward in a major renovation project that has drawn both praise and legal opposition. The new ballroom's expanded capacity could allow the White House to host larger events, but its construction would also involve the demolition of a historic part of the property.