Overview
- President Donald Trump posted a new exterior rendering on Feb. 3 showing a replacement East Wing anchored by a formal state ballroom.
- Construction continues after demolition of the historic East Wing, with the project described as roughly 90,000 square feet.
- The Department of Justice asked a federal judge this week to block any injunction, arguing a halt would endanger the president and staff, citing Secret Service assessments.
- Design oversight shifted in December from McCrery Architects to Shalom Baranes Associates, and the latest sketch shows a pedimented facade with eight columns; capacity projections have grown from about 650 to up to 1,000 guests.
- Cost estimates reported for the privately funded project range widely from about $200 million to $400 million, and federal review is advancing with an NCPC vote slated for March 5 and a public sign‑up opening Feb. 12.