White House ballroom price tag rises to $300 Million

The White House is expected to submit detailed plans for Donald Trump’s new ballroom to a federal planning commission before year-end, approximately three months after construction began.

Will Scharf, appointed by Trump as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, stated at a monthly meeting that the plans are scheduled for submission sometime in December.

“Once the plans are submitted, that’s when the commission’s and staff’s role truly begins,” Scharf said.

The White House also confirms that a second architectural firm has joined the project as construction enters a new phase. The firm has worked on several federal properties in the capital, including the Pentagon and the Treasury Department.

The original firm, McCrery Architects, remains on board as a consultant.

Could be twice the size

The 90,000-square-foot ballroom, unveiled this summer and expected to be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2029, is planned to be nearly double the size of the White House itself. It is said to accommodate 999 people.

The price tag now stands at $300 million, a significant increase from the earlier estimate of $200 million.

Trump began site preparation work in September, despite lacking approval from the planning commission at the time. In October, the East Wing was demolished, where the ballroom is to be built. The East Wing was the traditional base for the first lady and her staff.