History of White House State Ballroom in Timeline

The White House State Ballroom is a planned expansion to the White House's East Wing, aiming to create a larger venue for formal events, including state dinners. The 89,000-square-foot project began construction in September 2025, following the demolition of the original East Wing in October 2025. However, the project has faced criticism regarding its funding, design, permitting process, and the destruction of historic elements. A U.S. district court issued a temporary halt to construction, and the National Capital Planning Commission is yet to vote on the project.

2021: Alphabet donates to ballroom project

In 2021, Alphabet, owner of Google, donated $22 million towards the White House State Ballroom construction as part of a settlement for a lawsuit Trump filed accusing the company of violating his First Amendment rights.

July 2025: Expansion Announced

In July 2025, the announcement was made regarding the 89,000-square-foot expansion to add a venue with a higher seating capacity than the East Room for formal events.

July 2025: Project Completion Target

In a July 2025 announcement, the White House stated that the White House State Ballroom project would be finished before Trump's term ends in 2029, a timeline experts viewed as 'optimistic'.

September 2025: Construction Begins

Construction for the new East Wing of the White House, including the White House State Ballroom, began in September 2025 in Washington, D.C.

September 2025: Construction Begins During Government Shutdown

In September 2025, construction began on the White House State Ballroom. Construction continued during the 2025 United States federal government shutdown, as it was funded by private donors and not impacted by federal budget negotiations.

October 2025: Demolition of East Wing

In October 2025, the East Wing was demolished, leading to concerns from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) regarding asbestos inspection, abatement, public notification, and disposal activities.

October 2025: East Wing Demolition

In October 2025, the original East Wing of the White House was torn down to make way for the new White House State Ballroom.

October 2025: Removal of Commemorative Trees

In late October 2025, two magnolia trees planted as commemorative trees for presidents Warren G. Harding and Franklin D. Roosevelt were believed to have been removed during the construction of the White House State Ballroom.

December 2025: National Trust Lawsuit

In December 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) sued the Trump administration for failing to observe federal guidelines in regards to the ballroom construction.

January 8, 2026: Banquet Hall Details Announced

On January 8, 2026, the White House announced that the banquet hall would be 22,000 square feet and there would also be offices for the first lady and a movie theater.

January 2026: ADAO files Freedom of Information Act lawsuit

In January 2026, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) filed a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. They sought public records concerning asbestos inspection, abatement, public notification, and disposal activities connected to the October 2025 demolition of the East Wing.

February 2, 2026: Justice Department Response

On February 2, 2026, Justice Department lawyers stated in a court filing that the Trump administration would appeal on the grounds of "national security implications" if the district court halted the project.

February 19, 2026: CFA approves renovation

On February 19, 2026, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) appointed by President Trump, approved the White House State Ballroom renovation with a vote of 6–0.

February 26, 2026: Judge Allows Construction to Continue

On February 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon decided that construction on the ballroom could continue, but said he was willing to consider new arguments presented by the NTHP.

March 5, 2026: National Capital Planning Commission delays vote

On March 5, 2026, the National Capital Planning Commission announced that it would delay its vote to April 2, due to a New York Times analysis finding that 98% of the 32,000 public comments on the plan were negative.

March 29, 2026: New York Times Article on Design Flaws

On March 29, 2026, The New York Times published an article detailing the design flaws found in the plans for the ballroom.

April 2, 2026: National Capital Planning Commission Approves Project

On April 2, 2026, the National Capital Planning Commission approved the final project design for the White House State Ballroom expansion with an 8-1 vote.

2029: Target Completion

In July 2025, the White House announced the goal was to finish the ballroom project by 2029, before Trump's term concluded. Experts described the proposed timetable as 'optimistic'.