The hasty demolition of the East Wing of the White House appears to break a longstanding policy that requires a federal commission to oversee and approve construction projects in Washington, D.C., before demolition begins, former officials involved in the process told ABC News.
While the approval process is based on federal law and has been observed by previous administrations, former officials said there was no clear mechanism (administrative or legal) to reverse or stop the demolition, and the commission charged with approving construction is led by appointees of Trump himself.
Images appeared to show that the entire East Wing of the White House had been demolished on Thursday to make way for Trump’s privately funded $300 million ballroom.
“Over the years, many presidents have made changes. This would obviously be the biggest change,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
According to a former official who oversaw the projects during the president’s first term, as well as the Trump Organization’s renovation of the former Post Office building into a hotel between 2013 and 2016, both Trump’s company and his first administration were previously involved in the required approval process.
Below are answers to some of the main questions about the project.
What laws govern the construction of federal buildings in DC?
Construction of federal buildings in DC, including the White House, is overseen by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), a 12-member agency under the executive branch.
The commission handles central planning for any federal government projects in the National Capital Region, including the District, as well as parts of Virginia and Maryland.
The NCPC adopts a comprehensive plan for the city, reviews and approves construction projects, and adopts periodic improvement plans.
Established under the National Capital Planning Act of 1952, the NCPC’s authorities have since been expanded with additional legislation. The commission is usually made up of engineers, architects and historic preservation specialists, although it is currently closed due to the government shutdown.
Has the White House asked for approval for the project?
Plans for the ballroom have not yet been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, even though demolition is underway, although a White House official confirmed to ABC News that the White House still intends to submit plans for construction to the commission.
Will Scharf, White House staff secretary, currently chairs the NCPC, which is made up of three Trump appointees, members of federal agencies and representatives from DC.
“I know the president thinks very highly of this commission and I’m excited for us to play a role in the ballroom project when the time is appropriate to do so,” Scharf said at a commission meeting last month.
What is the review process?
According to L. Preston Bryant, Jr., former chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the NCPC uses a three-stage process to approve projects.
Early in the project, the federal agency managing the building (the National Park Service is leading the ballroom project) begins sharing building concepts, including about 10% of the design drawings, for a collaborative consultation process, according to Bryant.
Demolition work continues on a portion of the East Wing of the White House on October 23, 2025, in Washington, ahead of the construction of a new ballroom.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
The federal agency can then request preliminary approval after sharing approximately 30% of the design plans, followed by final approval after sharing approximately 70% of the designs.
The Fine Arts Commission also has the authority to review which construction projects match the “design and aesthetic” of Washington, DC, although it does not have approval power.
When is the NCPC typically involved in a project?
According to Bryant, the NCPC typically approves a project before demolition can begin.
The White House has suggested that they do not need to seek approval to demolish the East Wing because construction is different from demolition.
However, several former NCPC officials told ABC News that approval must be obtained before demolition can begin.
“The demolition element is inherent to the overall project. Demonstration is not separate from construction. It is part of it,” Bryant said. “What is torn down affects the layout of the site, what is built in its place, changing views and more.”
“In my nine years at NCPC, I don’t remember ever separating, or considering, what could be demolished from what could be built,” Bryant said. “In fact, there may be some parts of a new construction project that warrant salvaging parts of what is currently there and incorporating that salvaged part into the new design.”
How far along is the ballroom project?
According to the White House, Trump has held “several meetings with members of the White House staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning.”
Trump has also selected McCrery Architects, Clark Construction and AECOM Engineering as project leaders.
The White House has provided some renderings of the project, but has not provided further details about the design.
Could someone have sued to stop the project?
Former officials noted that the public and nonprofit groups had limited options to stop the demolition.
While violations of the National Capital Planning Law could have been pursued using the Administrative Procedure Law, the strategy is unproven and it is unclear whether nonprofits could demonstrate standing to sue, an official said.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the White House to express concerns about the project and ask the Trump administration to “pause demolition until plans for the proposed ballroom go through the legally required public review processes, including consultation and review by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Fine Arts Commission, and inviting public comment.”
Priya Jain, chair of the Heritage Conservation Committee of the Society of Architectural Historians, told ABC News that her organization has not seen any studies or additional information about the project.
“I heard the president speak saying that these studies have already been done and that many architects have been involved in it. I think our desire and objective is to be able to see these studies and deliberations, so that we can be sure that, indeed, the demolition of the east wing was the best possible solution,” he said.
Is Trump aware of the oversight process?
According to former government officials involved in the approval process, the Trump administration previously participated in the NCPC process.
When first lady Melania Trump built a new tennis court at the White House during Trump’s first term, the NCPC approved the project, an official said.
Similarly, Trump had to seek approval from the NCPC when Trump’s company, before becoming president, renovated the historic Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C., into a hotel after the Trump Organization signed a lease on the building in 2013.
Despite being privately funded, the project still required approval from the NCPC.
Isn’t the White House a protected historic building?
The White House and all buildings in President’s Park, including the Treasury Building and the Old Executive Office Building, are exempt from the law protecting typically historic buildings thanks to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, although the White House is still covered by the National Capital Planning Act of 1952.
