President Trump's plan for a new White House ballroom has dramatically expanded over the past year, with the estimated cost doubling to $400 million and the project now including a rooftop drone port, underground hospital, and top-secret military facilities.
Announced in June 2025 as a $200 million venue for state events, the project has grown significantly. The East Wing was demolished in October to make way for construction. Trump now says the structure will be three stories deep, featuring bomb shelters and a missile-proof roof.
While Trump insists the project costs taxpayers nothing, a separate $400 million Republican-backed security bill linked to the ballroom is pending in Congress. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit to halt construction, arguing the president lacks legal authority for the demolition.