Overview
- James McCrery II, the original lead, will stay on as a consultant after reported clashes with the president over the project’s size and design.
- National Capital Planning Commission chair Will Scharf said the panel expects to receive the ballroom plans in December, following the East Wing’s demolition.
- Public estimates have grown from a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot design for 650 guests to roughly $300 million with capacity near 1,000.
- The White House says the project will be paid for by private donors, including the president, drawing conflict-of-interest and transparency scrutiny.
- Preservation concerns and new legislation intensified, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal proposing the No Palaces Act to require pre-demolition review and congressional approval for privately funded changes.