The controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s ambitious White House Ballroom project plan to construct a 90,000 square foot Massive Addition after the East Wing Demolition has escalated with a major shake up in the architectural team.
Amid reports of friction over the Controversial Construction’s immense Architectural Scale the White House confirmed the hiring of a New White House Architect. This change coupled with ballooning costs and a looming regulatory deadline has intensified the political scrutiny over one of the most significant changes to the Executive Mansion in its 233 year history.
This article breaks down the New White House Architect the escalating White House Ballroom Cost and the political and legal fight over the $300 Million Project.
From Clash to Consultant: The Architectural Hand Off
The White House confirmed on December 4th that veteran Washington D.C architect Shalom Baranes has been brought on as the new lead architect. This transition follows a reported Clash Over Size between President Donald Trump and the project’s original lead James McCrery II.
According to a Washington Post report, James McCrery II a renowned classical architect voiced serious concerns that the sprawling new White House Ballroom designed to hold 999 people would visually Dwarfing the White House‘s main building, which is roughly 55000 square feet in size.
- Passing the Baton. White House spokesman Davis Ingle framed the move as a seamless transition into a new phase of the project, stating “Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the Architectural Identity of our nation’s capital for decades.”
- McCrery’s New Role. While his firm is no longer the project lead James McCrery II will remain as a Consultant to providing continuity and expertise on the project which aims to be completed before the Trump Term End in January 2029.
- Baranes’s Expertise. The selection of Baranes whose firm has an extensive federal portfolio including renovations on the Pentagon and Treasury building, signals a drive to quickly navigate the complex Regulatory Oversight of federal Vertical Construction.
Public Opposition & The Soaring $300 Million Cost
The sheer scale and cost of the Massive Addition have fueled strong Public Opposition. A recent Washington Post ABC News Ipsos poll found a significant 56% of Americans oppose the project with nearly half of those strongly opposed.
The White House Ballroom Cost Overrun
The estimated price tag for the ballroom has surged by 50% since its announcement to raising the stakes in the ongoing Political Controversy.
| Financial Metric | Initial Estimate July 2025. | Current Estimate Dec 2025 |
| Project Cost | $200 million (Ball parked). | $300 million |
| Funding Source | Private Donors | Private Donations from corporations, Patriots, and the President |
| Purpose | Replace the smaller East Room and eliminate the need for event tents |
The White House continues to insist the project will not cost taxpayers a dime, citing funding via Private Donations.11 However, the source of these funds, including Corporations and powerful financiers, has raised ethical concerns about the appearance of privileged access to the Executive Mansion.
The Legal Battle: NCPC, Demolition and New Legislation
The most contentious aspect of the Controversial Construction has been the administration’s decision to proceed with the East Wing Demolition and early site excavation without first submitting formal Design Plans Submission to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC).
- NCPC Review Imminent. Will Scharf the NCPC Chairman (and a White House staff secretary), confirmed on December 4th that the White House plans to submit the long awaited plans to the Federal Planning Agency later in December.This action formally initiates the commission’s Regulatory Oversight review of the new construction.
- The Demolition Loophole. The White House had argued that the NCPC Jurisdiction applies only to Vertical Construction not to the East Wing Demolition. They exploited the Historic Preservation Act Exemption afforded to the White House and the U.S Capitol which waives certain reviews required for other historic federal buildings.
- Legislative Pushback. In response to the unchecked demolition Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the “No Palaces Act,” a bill aimed at closing the Legal Scrutiny loopholes by requiring Congressional Authority and triggering mandatory NCPC review before any similar projects can proceed on the White House grounds in the future.
The convergence of the architect change, the significant Cost Overruns and the imminent NCPC review ensures the White House Ballroom remains a central political story as its Vertical Construction begins.
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FAQs
Why was the original architect, James McCrery II opposed to the size of the project?
James McCrery II a proponent of classical architecture was concerned that the 90,000 square foot Addition would be so large it would visually Dwarfing the White House violating the traditional architectural principle that an addition should not dominate the original structure.
What is the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)’s role now that the East Wing Demolition is complete?
The NCPC’s role is shifting to Regulatory Oversight of the new Vertical Construction. Their review of the Design Plans Submission (expected in December) will determine if the project’s scale and appearance are appropriate for the Executive Mansion.
Who are the Private Donations coming from for the $300 Million Project?
The White House has released a list of Donors that includes wealthy individuals charitable organizations and major American Corporations all of whom are privately funding the White House Ballroom Cost.
Call To Action
The Controversial Construction of the White House Ballroom is heading into a critical review phase with the NCPC this month.
Did this analysis clarify the financial and political stakes?
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