The White House has revised the ballroom project estimate from $200 million in July to $400 million this week as the design grew from 500 seats to plans as large as 1,350. The administration says it has raised $350 million but may need another $50 million or return funds. Donor secrecy has prompted congressional inquiries, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to block construction, though a judge has allowed work to continue.
White House Ballroom Cost Doubles to $400M as Design Expands and Donor Questions Mount
The projected cost for the planned White House ballroom has surged from an initial $200 million estimate in July to $400 million as of this week, according to a White House update.
Escalating Price and Ambition
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in late July that construction would begin on what was then described as “approximately $200 million.” By October the estimate rose to $250 million, then to $300 million, and most recently to $400 million. The president acknowledged the higher figure at a White House event, declaring, “I build under budget.”
Plans Grew With A New Architect
The cost increase followed the administration’s decision to bring in a new architect as the project’s scope expanded. Reporting in The New York Times traced the growth: an original 500-seat plan attached to the East Wing became 650 seats, then 999 seats, and later 1,350 seats. This week, President Trump said he now wants the ballroom large enough to host an inauguration.
Demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House on Dec. 08, 2025.(Getty Images)
“I build under budget,” the president said, a claim many observers noted as ironic given the sharp escalation in the price estimate.
Funding, Transparency, and Oversight
The administration says it has raised roughly $350 million for the project but has suggested it may need at least another $50 million—or that some donors might be refunded. The White House has not fully disclosed the identities of several donors, prompting congressional Democrats to open inquiries into whether corporations that contributed received, or expect to receive, special treatment. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is among the lawmakers seeking answers.
Legal Challenge and National Security Claim
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a federal lawsuit aiming to block construction, arguing the project threatens the historic character of the White House complex. The White House responded by arguing that delays could adversely affect national security. For now, a federal judge has allowed the project to proceed while litigation continues.
The ballroom’s rapid evolution—from a modest 500-seat plan to a proposed inauguration-sized space—along with rising costs and limited donor transparency, has made the project a focal point for critics, preservationists and lawmakers.
