Trump Hasn’t Sought Approvals for White House Ballroom

“President Donald Trump is rushing to break ground next month on a giant White House ballroom, but has not yet submitted the project for a review that experts said is required by law and often takes years to complete,” the Washington Post reports.

“A security fence and a tennis pavilion — neither of which involved the White House itself — each took at least two years to move through the National Capital Planning Commission, which vets construction of and renovation to the region’s federal buildings. The Trump administration plans to start work next month on a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot structure that would nearly double the footprint of the main building and its East and West wings.”

“Records show the project has yet to be reviewed by the commission. Three former planning commission members told The Washington Post that a review of any exterior construction project at the White House is required by federal law.”