‘It still seems overwhelming’: Officials finally explain why they demolished the East Wing, but one Democrat isn’t buying it

The White House told officials that saving the East Wing was impossible due to serious structural problems. They shared details about President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom at a public meeting with the commission that needs to approve it.

Josh Fisher, who leads the White House Office of Administration, explained that an unstable colonnade, water leaks, mold, and other issues made tearing down the East Wing cheaper than fixing it. The $400 million ballroom would replace it.

Fisher told the National Capital Planning Commission that demolishing and rebuilding was the best long-term plan and would cost less overall than renovation. “Because of this and other factors, the cost analysis proved that demolition and reconstruction provided the lowest total cost ownership and most effective long-term strategy,” HuffPost quotes him. 

The demolition raised more questions than answers

This was the first detailed explanation for why the East Wing was demolished. The sudden demolition in October surprised many people because there was little advance warning. Will Scharf, the commission’s chairman and a top White House official, said he believes the project will get approved in the end.

Architect Shalom Baranes joined Fisher to present the proposal to the commission. Baranes showed panel members drawings of the ballroom and views of the White House complex from both north and south sides with the new addition.

Baranes mentioned the design might include adding a second floor to the West Wing colonnade. This would help make the White House look more balanced with the new ballroom on the east side. However, this change would significantly alter the iconic area outside the Oval Office. The administration has been involved in other controversies, including Trump’s claims about Democrat investigations.

Fisher and Baranes said the project includes more than just a ballroom. It will also improve how visitors access the White House and make unspecified upgrades to Lafayette Park across the street.

Some of the 12 commissioners had concerns. Democrat Phil Mendelson asked the most questions about the ballroom’s size and location. He wanted to know if these details might change later. Baranes said anything was possible but added that the plans had been carefully studied. 

Mendelson, who chairs the D.C. Council, asked if the planned ceiling height of 38 to 40 feet could be lowered before the final building is done. He received confirmation that the number wasn’t final yet. “It still seems to me it’s overwhelming the existing building,” Mendelson said.

Baranes explained the ballroom’s height would match the rest of the White House exactly. However, when finished, the ballroom is expected to be larger than the current White House building. 

Mendelson also questioned why the full project wasn’t presented to the commission before the East Wing was torn down. Fisher said some parts of the ballroom construction were top secret and needed special handling. Trump’s rhetoric has created serious tensions, with Democrats receiving 24/7 protection after threats.