Demolition meets democracy  

Over the years, the building has undergone significant renovations including the addition of the North and South Porticos in the 1820s and the West and East Wings in 1902, and the Oval Office in 1909. It was officially named the White House in 1901 by Theodore Roosevelt. It remains one of the most historic and iconic homes in America, if not the world.  

On Oct. 20, 2025, the Trump administration began demolition of the White House East Wing in a significant departure from the required federal review process. The offices of the First Lady, the Presidential Emergency Operations and the public entrance to the “people’s house” were bulldozed with plans to build a 90,000-square-foot structure that would house offices and a new ballroom. The sudden demolition prompted outrage over the lack of public input and transparency with the gaping hole a symbol of indifference to the American people.

As a preservation leader, I am sharing this story because I continue to be concerned by this president’s blatant disregard for rules and I want to share a meaningful way for people to participate in this conversation.  

In mid-December of 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit in federal court alleging the “ballroom” project did not undergo the required independent design reviews, lacked congressional authorization, and ignored environmental assessment requirements. On Jan. 22, 2026, a federal judge initially questioned if the administration had the statutory authority to complete this work, but then on Thursday, Feb. 26, the judge abruptly declined the NTHP’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt construction on legal grounds until a compliant process was complete, but suggested that if the trust amended their complaint he would consider it expeditiously. The trust has indicated it will amend its complaint. 

Concurrent with this legal wrangling, the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to meet March 5 to review the White House East Wing Modernization and accept public input on the design. The trust is not suggesting that a ballroom is unnecessary, but rather that there is a process to follow, and the scope and scale of the massive ballroom dwarf the White House and significantly impact important historical elements of the original site. The current ballroom size might be comparable in scale to your neighbor installing a 10-car two-story garage in front of their house. The American people deserve an opportunity to weigh in on a home that transcends presidents and parties. The ramifications of these decisions will carry on for years and one can imagine each new president having full authority to demolish and rebuild any element of the White House with no public input in an unending cycle of partisanship.  

The NTHP has posted a video explaining its concerns regarding the architectural integrity of the new ballroom design and have made several suggestions to improve the space efficiency, enhance the aesthetic and reduce the massing. This information is posted at the top of the NTHP website https://savingplaces.org and includes a link to provide public comment to the NCPC prior to March 4 at 9 a.m. PST. I encourage everyone to watch the video and use this opportunity to participate in the democratic process.  

Several years ago I had the chance to visit the White House. The beauty and importance of this national treasure inspired me and gave me a profound sense of patriotism while being immersed in the history and stories of our nation. The American public deserves an opportunity to comment on major White House renovations. Even if this is not your top concern with the administration, it is an official opportunity to provide input on the record. Your voice can become an important part of history because when millions of Americans speak up the administration should take note and then we might have a chance at a democratic solution for the most iconic home in our nation.  

Donna Colson is on the Board of Directors for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She is also a member of the Burlingame City Council. Views are her own.