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President Donald Trump has cited national security i inadequate space for events as two of the reasons for his decision in October tear down the east wing of the White House and build a ballroom. Behind the scenes, there’s a third: The World War II-era building was structurally unsound, blooming with roof and foundation leaks and outdated mechanical systems, according to a statement from Joshua Fisher, the White House director of management and administration.
“Structural updates [were needed to] address the aging and unstable roof structure of the east wing colonnade, along with insufficient footing and support bracing,” Fisher said in a statement included in court filings filed with Judge Richard Leon of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
A sentence from León in March temporarily stop work on the project. An appeals court put the mandate on hold two weeks later, allowing work to continue while issues related to the size and scope of the ballroom and what input is needed from stakeholders are considered.
In his statement, Fisher said that as the White House’s point person on the project, he had consulted with the US Secret Service, the National Park Service and other government agencies on how best to upgrade the facility, build the ballroom and add security measures.
“Each of the stakeholders identified various problems within the Executive Mansion and the East Wing that had been uncovered during their many years of service in the White House,” he said.
The east wing was built in 1902 as a formal entrance for visitors. An underground bunker, called the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, was built underneath as part of an overhaul in 1942, according to a history of the east wing on the White House website.
Fisher pointed to a report released in 2000, when Bill Clinton was in office, that identified a need for an expanded event space on the White House grounds. “Successive administrations have recognized this need as an ongoing priority,” he said. “The president directed me to start a project to implement these and many other goals important to him and to several other entities of the United States government.”
Fisher said the building had fallen into disrepair since its renovation during World War II.
The roof of the colonnade had outlived its useful life and was leaking; the substructure was leaking, causing progressive deterioration and corrosion of structural components and contamination from mold and other toxic substances; the electrical infrastructure was outdated, undersized, at risk of operational failure, not up to code and a fire hazard. Steam and mechanical systems were old, inefficient and unreliable. The facility violated Americans with Disabilities Act and life safety requirements and had asbestos and lead paint hazards.
Given the scope of the work needed, Fisher said, the best course of action was to tear down the structure and build a new one. “Based on a cost analysis, demolishing the existing east wing structure and rebuilding a new east wing provided the lowest total cost of ownership and the most effective long-term risk reduction,” he said.
Trump said he expects the project to be completed by 2028.
“The funny thing is, from a usage standpoint, other presidents will have it for 200 years,” Trump said in a interview on May 30 with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump on Fox News. “I’ll have her for about six months.”
