Washington (AP) – demolition into construction President Donald Trump’s new ballroom From the east wing of the White House, the mission can begin without approval from a committee assigned to review the construction of federal buildings, the panel-appointed director of the Trump mission said Thursday.
Will Scharf, who is also the White House secretary, said at the National Capital Planning Committee’s public meeting that the board has no jurisdiction over the demolition of federal property buildings or preparing the site.
“What we’re dealing with is essentially construction, vertical builds,” Schaaf said. He called Trump’s promised ballroom “one of the most exciting construction projects in the district’s modern history.”
The committee’s public meeting on Thursday was the only committee scheduled before the crew broke the ground. $200 million, 90,000 square feet ballroom It could significantly change the appearance and size of both the east and west wings of the White House. The Planning Commission is responsible for approving construction work and major renovations on government buildings in the Washington area.
However, Schaff distinguished between demolition work and reconstruction, saying that the committee is only necessary to review the latter.
“I think the assertion that this committee should have been consulted earlier than ever is simply wrong,” he said.
After the meeting, he was asked if the final approval process could delay work in the ballroom and said, “Demolition and site preparation work can certainly occur, but if you’re talking about actually building something, yeah, you should go through the approval process.”
“I think this would be a tremendous addition to the president’s history as a builder, given the plans we’ve seen publicly.
Trump, the building mogul before he became a reality TV star and politician, personally oversaw improvement projects at the White House. Last month I walked on the roof of a building. With construction staff.
It’s going to happen Latest changes Since the Republican president took office in January, he introduced what is known as the “House of People” and introduced the first structural changes to the executive apartments themselves since the addition of the Truman Balcony in 1948.
Trump has effectively renovated his oval office with golden prosperity and the addition of angels, presidential portraits and other items. I installed a giant flag pole American flag flying on the grass in the north and south. lawn In the rose garden It was paved with stones and patio tables reminiscent of Trump’s Mar Arago real estate in Florida.
Schaaf also used the meeting to argue that the Federal Reserve fled jurisdiction over the planning committee while undergoing major renovations to the building. Trump was awarded and particularly criticized for resigning as Chairman Jerome Powell for months. Long-term building projects Much beyond the budget.
Schaff said he would send a letter to the Fed “keeping my serious concerns in mind,” claiming that “whatever it wants from that property, it could build a recreational park on their property, and no one would have any concerns.
The Federal Reserve did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
