Overview
- A National Park Service assessment released Dec. 15 found the planned 90,000-square-foot annex would cause long-term adverse effects on the White House cultural landscape but did not require a full environmental impact statement.
- The court on Dec. 16 rejected a request for a temporary halt, allowing construction to proceed below grade while administrative review and litigation continue.
- In a Dec. 15 filing, the administration cited unspecified national security reasons for continuing work and said planning commissions would review the project outside the court process.
- The project has expanded from a July concept of about 650 seats and $200 million to more than 1,000 seats with a reported cost near $400 million, funded by private donors.
- Trump confirmed on Dec. 4 that Shalom Baranes Associates replaced McCrery Architects as lead designer following disagreements over size, after the East Wing was demolished in October.