In a move that could reshape the iconic White House, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has placed its confidence in the Trump-appointed chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, Will Scharf, to rigorously review President Trump’s proposal for a new ballroom.
Trust in the NCPC Chair
Carol Quillen, president of the National Trust, said she “takes him at his word that the process will be conducted as it always is, deliberately and seriously, and that the commission will do its job.” She cited Scharf’s December panel statement that the review would be treated seriously once plans were submitted and that he expected to receive them this month.
Status of the Ballroom Plans
The White House has yet to share the ballroom designs with Scharf’s panel or the Commission of Fine Arts. The NCPC released its January agenda, listing the East Wing Modernization Project for an “information presentation,” a typical first step in project review. The National Trust filed a lawsuit last week seeking a court order to halt construction until multiple independent reviews, public comment and congressional approval are obtained.
Legal and Administrative Responses
A federal judge denied the Trust’s request for a temporary restraining order but set a January hearing for a motion for a preliminary injunction that would pause all work until the reviews are finished. The government argued the lawsuit was premature, noting that the ballroom plans are not finalized and that construction is not expected to begin until April 2026 at the earliest. The administration maintains that the president has authority to modify the White House and cites a long history of changes to the Executive Mansion.
Key Takeaways
- The National Trust trusts NCPC chair Will Scharf to conduct a serious review of the ballroom proposal.
- A court has denied a temporary restraining order but will hear a preliminary injunction request in January.
- The White House has not yet provided the ballroom plans to the NCPC or Commission of Fine Arts, and construction is slated to start no earlier than April 2026.
The outcome of these legal and administrative actions will determine whether Trump’s ambitious 90,000-square-foot ballroom, intended to seat 999 guests, can proceed without further scrutiny or a halt to construction.
