Trump's Grand Ballroom Plan: What's the Hold-Up?

A big change is coming to the White House. The East Wing is gone. It was torn down last October. Now, a huge new ballroom is planned. It will cost $400 million. That's a lot of money! The new building will be 90, 000 square feet. It's part of a big makeover for Washington, D. C. The plan is to finish this project by summer 2028. But first, it needs approval. The National Capital Planning Commission will talk about it on March 5. They will look at the plans for the new building. The U. S. Commission of Fine Arts will also have a say. Both groups oversee big projects in the area.Trump picked some members of these groups. His former lawyer even leads the National Capital Planning Commission. So, they might not stop the project. But there are other problems. Courts are looking into it. A judge is skeptical. They wonder if the project can go ahead without Congress' okay. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued. They say the project lacks approvals and reviews. The White House says the East Wing was old and inefficient. They claim the new building will fix many issues. They also plan to save some parts of the East Wing. Like the cornerstone and a pergola designed by I. M. Pei. This project is huge. It's the most extensive remake of the U. S. capital in decades. But is it worth it? And who really benefits? These are questions worth asking.