Trump’s White House ballroom moves one step closer to approval after fast-track vote
Trump’s East Wing Ballroom Gains Approval Following Expedited Vote
On Thursday, the Commission of Fine Arts accelerated its approval of President Donald Trump’s East Wing renovation plans, marking a significant milestone in his initiative to introduce a new ballroom. The decision, which was unanimous, approved not just the concept but the final design, an unusually swift move for the independent federal agency.
A Unanimous Decision Amid Public Criticism
The committee, an independent body advising the government on design aspects of monuments, memorials, coins, and federal structures, voted to fast-track the project. Despite receiving over 2,000 public comments—99% of which were negative—the approval proceeded. The chairperson highlighted that the panel received over 2,000 public comments, with nearly 99% expressing opposition.
The meeting, conducted via Zoom, excluded public in-person feedback, prompting the chairman to summarize the concerns. Critics raised issues such as “illegal demolition,” “inappropriate scale,” and a lack of transparency around the project. The vote came just an hour after the committee’s recent swearing-in of two new members: Chamberlain Harris, Trump’s executive assistant, and Pamela Hughes Patenaude, a former deputy secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the first Trump administration.
Trump Loyalists Now Lead the Panel
The addition of these members made the panel entirely composed of Trump appointees, a shift that followed the president’s efforts to replace board members since last year. Harris, with no prior arts experience, supported the project, stating in a blockquote: “We want this to be the greatest ballroom in the world.”
“We want this to be the greatest ballroom in the world.”
Architect Shalom Baranes unveiled animated and 3D renderings of the revamped East Wing, offering the public its first glimpse of a complete mock-up. The project still awaits approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which will convene on March 5. This commission also consists of Trump loyalists.
