The White House East Wing, a historic section of the presidential complex that has served as the primary entrance for public tours and housed the First Lady’s offices and staff since its construction in 1942, is now being completely demolished as part of President Donald Trump’s ballroom project.
According to ABC News, demolition of the structure began earlier this week and by Thursday, October 23, satellite images from Planet Labs PBC showed the East Wing “reduced to rubble.” An administration official confirmed to Reuters that “the demolition process would likely be finished within two weeks.”
The demolition contradicts President Trump’s earlier statements from July 2025 that the ballroom project would “not interfere with the current building” and would be “near it but not touching it.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that “the plans changed when the president heard counsel from the architects and the construction companies,” who advised that the demolition was necessary “for this East Wing to be modern and beautiful for many, many years to come.”
Impact On Public Tours And White House Access
Public tours of the White House have been suspended indefinitely due to the demolition and upcoming construction project. Traditionally, the East Wing has served as the primary entrance point for all public tours, housing the security screening facilities and serving as the gateway for the thousands of visitors who tour the White House each year. As the PBS NewsHour reported, “The East Wing is traditionally the social side of the White House … It’s where tourists and other guests enter for events.”
With the entire structure now demolished, no alternative entry point has been established for public access. The White House has not provided specific information about when tours might resume, only indicating that the offices and facilities in the East Wing “will be modernized” as part of the ballroom project.
What Travelers Should Know About Visiting Washington D.C.
Tourists who had planned to visit the White House in the coming months will need to adjust their itineraries. The White House Visitors Office, which typically handles tour requests through congressional offices, has not announced any plans for temporary tour arrangements during the construction period.
Visitors to Washington, D.C. should instead consider alternative historic and governmental attractions, including the U.S. Capitol Building (which offers its own tour program), the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the many Smithsonian museums, when they reopen. (They temporarily closed on October 12 due to the government shutdown.) Those who had scheduled White House tours should contact their congressional representative’s office for the latest information on cancellations and possible rescheduling.
Controversy Surrounding The Project’s Approval Process
The demolition has generated controversy regarding whether proper protocols were followed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president doesn’t need approval for demolition, only for “vertical construction,” citing a previous legal opinion from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC).
Leavitt stated, “Their general counsel has said when it comes to Phase 1 of this project, the tearing down of the current East Wing structure, a submission is not required legally for that. Only for vertical construction will a submission be required.” The NCPC is a federal agency that provides planning policies and reviews development proposals to preserve the architecture of the nation’s capital.
However, its operations have been affected by the ongoing government shutdown. According to CBS News, the White House has indicated it intends to submit plans to the NCPC before beginning the construction phase.
