Trump Orders White House Renovations and Security Upgrades

Donald Trump is directing a comprehensive transformation of the White House and surrounding federal landmarks. Current work at the North Portico involves standard restoration of the columns, using scaffolding and tarps to mask repairs to the stone and plaster. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum noted that the president identified the need for these repairs after noticing damage to the pillars while greeting world leaders.

Parallel to cosmetic repairs, the White House is implementing security-focused upgrades to the North Portico front door to fortify the entrance. These enhancements, which follow recommendations from the United States Secret Service, are scheduled for completion by mid-September. The urgency for these measures follows several assassination attempts against the president, including an April incident at the Washington Hilton and a plot targeting a UFC fight on the South Lawn.

The broader renovation plan includes demolishing the East Wing to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom—estimated to cost $100 million—which will feature a drone port, sniper nests, and an underground bunker. Other projects include a new South Lawn helipad, a Rose Garden patio, and gold accents in the Oval Office. Trump has also launched renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Kennedy Center, and intends to build a triumphal arch near the National Mall.