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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Will Weissert

Demolition for new White House ballroom doesn't need approval, Trump-appointed commission head says

Trump Rose Garden - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Demolition to build President Donald Trump’s new ballroom off the East Wing of the White House can begin without approval of the commission tasked with vetting construction of federal buildings, the Trump-appointed head of the panel said Thursday.

Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary, said during a public meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission that the board does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property.

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