Construction crews have begun demolishing part of the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom for President Donald Trump, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
V. "Washington Post" published dramatic photos of the demolition on its website, showing an excavator demolishing parts of the facade and windows of the East Wing. Reporters watched the process from a park near the Treasury Department, which is located next to the East Wing.
Tree clearing and other preparatory work at the site began in September.
The White House claims that it does not need approval from the National Capital Planning Commission for the demolition work, but only for new construction. The commission is responsible for approving construction and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington, D.C. area. It is chaired by Will Scharf, who is also the White House secretary for document management and a top Trump aide.
The commission has not approved the construction, and it is unclear whether the White House has presented the ballroom plans to it. The commission's offices are closed because government offices are closed.
The Republican president said he is building a massive 89,000-square-foot ballroom because the East Room - the largest in the White House, which seats about 200 people - is too small, and he doesn't like the idea of holding events in pavilions on the South Lawn.
The new ballroom will seat 999 people, Trump said last week. The White House announced that it will be completed before the end of his term in January 2029.
The East Wing of the White House is where the first lady traditionally works.