The East Wing could fully be demolished soon, as preservationists urge caution

"Although Trump initially said the project wouldn't "interfere with the current building" and would be "near it but not touching it," he explained Wednesday that "in order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure." The scope of the project has alarmed preservationists who urged a more thorough review of the privately-funded plans. The White House official said the offices that were in the East Wing will be "modernized and rebuilt." The official said there will be security enhancements involving the underground bunker built under the East Wing during World War II, known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center."

"called on the Trump administration to pause demolition until the ballroom plans go through "the legally required public review processes," which includes input and approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. "We are deeply concerned that the massing and height of the proposed new construction will overwhelm the White House itself it is 55,000 square feet and may also permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House with its two smaller, and lower, East and West Wings," the letter said."

The East Wing of the White House is slated for full demolition as early as this weekend to make room for a privately funded 90,000-square-foot ballroom. Demolition work is reportedly ahead of schedule, and President Trump said removal of the existing structure was necessary after initially saying the project would not touch the current building. The demolition reaches to the edge of the residence and will remove the East Garden Room, Family Theater, East Colonnade and the office complex. The White House plans to modernize and rebuild offices and add security enhancements tied to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. Preservation groups have called for a pause until legally required public review processes occur, citing concerns that the new construction's massing and height could overwhelm and disrupt the White House's classical design.

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