Congress should strip White House ballroom down to size

Presidents come and go, but the White House belongs to the nation.

It’s not a palace but the people’s house. That’s why President Donald Trump’s unauthorized demolition of the East Wing and the rush to construct a massive ballroom — the cost of which has already ballooned from $250 million to $1 billion — reeks of royal privilege. Instead of the promised largesse of donors and friends of the president, taxpayers are being asked to pony up the 10-figure sum.

Certainly, there should be a place at the White House to host large gatherings, state dinners and diplomatic events. The current space has long been inadequate. The problem is the cost and how it’s being rushed into existence. It’s harder for a Long Island homeowner to add a garage than it was for Trump to raze and start the rebuilding of a national landmark.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing to stop the project because the proper review process was not followed. Architectural integrity appears not to be a concern. The current model East Wing is gaudy, pretentious, too large. The “let them eat cake” attitude polled poorly from the start when affordability is top of mind for most.

That’s why hours after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month, Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche held a news conference turning the frightening event into an opportunity to label the ballroom a national security project. Not only did they seek to get the project on track, it allowed the administration to slip the $1 billion price tag into the national defense budget. That makes how that money is being spent classified information, which is even more outrageous. This funding process must be transparent, except for specific details to ensure the president’s safety.

In response to the Historic Trust’s lawsuit, the White House has said in court documents that the project would include a bomb shelter, biodefense systems, a military command center and a roof that could withstand a drone attack. There was no estimate for copious gold leaf.

Presumably, the U.S. military has it own plans for defending the White House. Congress is being pressured by Trump to deliver the funds but even Republicans are reading the room and backing away from this project. The fight is holding up funding for Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.

Congress has oversight of large capital projects. It should strip this one down to size and require that any new construction at the White House meet historic preservation standards.

Private donations should cover all the nonsecurity costs just as Trump promised. Each member of Congress should be on record for their ballroom vote.

Bypassing established processes is not just a breach of laws and protocol — it undermines the principle that presidents are custodians, not owners, of this national symbol.