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Trump-appointed panel approves White House ballroom project

February 19, 2026

The US Commission of Fine Arts has approved President Trump's controversial plan to construct a large ballroom at the White House, despite overwhelming public opposition and an ongoing lawsuit. The project involves replacing the demolished East Wing with a facility that has grown from an initial 500-person capacity to 1,350 people, funded by private donations according to Trump. Historic preservation organizations have filed legal challenges arguing the project bypassed required review processes and public input procedures.

Who is affected

  • President Donald Trump and his administration
  • The US Commission of Fine Arts (particularly Trump appointees and Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr.)
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation (nonprofit filing lawsuit)
  • Historic preservation groups opposing the project
  • Members of the public (over 2,000 submitted comments)
  • James McCrery (Commission Vice Chairman who abstained due to conflict of interest)
  • Chamberlain Harris and other newly sworn-in Trump-appointed commission members
  • Shalom Baranes (current architect on the project)
  • The National Capital Planning Commission (12-member panel awaiting review)

What action is being taken

  • The US Commission of Fine Arts is approving the design plans after architects made modifications
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation is pursuing a federal lawsuit against the ballroom construction
  • The case remains in active litigation
  • Two new Trump-appointed commission members are being sworn in

Why it matters

  • This project represents a significant and controversial alteration to one of America's most iconic historic buildings, the White House, which Trump argues is necessary to properly host important national events and foreign dignitaries. The dispute highlights tensions between presidential authority and historic preservation requirements, with legal questions about whether proper review processes and public input opportunities were followed. The overwhelmingly negative public response (over 99% of 2,000+ comments opposing the project) contrasts sharply with the approval from a Trump-appointed commission, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the politicization of historic preservation decisions.

What's next

  • The ballroom project requires approval from the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission
  • The National Capital Planning Commission's next meeting to discuss the ballroom is scheduled for early March
  • The federal lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation continues in litigation

Read full article from source: BBC