Protest Trump’s Destruction of the White House
The White House has begun construction of Trump’s proposed ballroom, starting with a full demolition of the East Wing. Trump initially pledged that his $200 billion ballroom would not “interfere with the existing building,” but now the project will entirely replace the current East Wing and cost [“about $300 billion](https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/politics/ballroom-donors-white-house-trump0]."
While the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the law that requires strict public review for projects that affect history property, has an exemption for the White House, the National Park Service, the Commission on Fine Arts, and the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC) still have oversight over changes. The White House is required to submit construction plans to the NCPC for review and approval, but Trump has now installed loyalists to the commission](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-used-his-goons-to-ignore-white-house-teardown-laws/), including former personal lawyer Will Scharf as the chair. Scharf has already dismissed the notion that the White House needed approval for the East Wing demolition. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has also raised concerns that Trump’s ballroom would overwhelm the White House itself; they have asked for construction to be paused until all legally required public reviews were complete.
Trump’s use of private donors to the fund the ballroom construction has also made it a hub for corruption and bribery for corporations and foreign entities seeking government favors and access. Current “donations” include those from wealthy right-wing donors, federal contractors, and corporate lawsuit settlements.
The shifting estimates of this dictatorial vanity project’s size and cost, the unlawful lack of public input and review, and the unethical nature of its funding have highlighted the need for robust oversight and accountability. Call on your representatives to hold the White House accountable for their desecration of historical public property.
Contacts for this topic:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
I’m calling to express my deep outrage over the destruction of the White House East Wing for Trump’s unnecessary ballroom. I ask that [REP/SEN NAME] conduct oversight into the ballroom’s funding sources, and demand a stop to any further construction until the legally required public review and approval is completed. Destroying historical property for a personal vanity project is the act of a dictator, not a president.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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