Stop work order: White House hasn't submitted plans for Trump's fancy ballroom despite shocking demolition

[cbabe]

https://www.rawstory.com/white-house-ballroom-2674223704/

White House hasn't submitted plans for Trump's fancy ballroom despite shocking demolition

Sarah K. Burris
October 22, 2025 3:49PM ET

No permits or plans have been submitted for the reconstruction of the new gold ballroom at the White House, a project initiated by President Donald Trump during the government shutdown, and a stop-work order has been issued.

Designer Sarah Boardman has spent the past two days on Threads, sounding the alarm that in a normal world, the National Capital Planning Commission would be in "charge of the construction, preservation, and all plans for the White House."

Boardman pointed out, "They do not have permission yet, and this is one of the agencies that is closed due to the shutdown. They absolutely did this on purpose."

"I just looked up all the permit records for the White House. There are none for this ballroom abomination. There are no applications. And it clearly says that we own this building," Boardman wrote on Threads with screen captures of the website.

…

She also looked up specific permits the construction company itself has pulled for the area, and there is no permit listed under their name for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

… more … usually two plus year timeline … public review required … asbestos removal …

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/22/white-house-trump-new-ballroom-demolition

No plans filed for Trump’s new ballroom despite demolition being under way

… more …

[SheltieLover]

1. Catsup will be hitting the walls tonight...

Where is Surfered with the image of catsup bottles stampeeding to escape the man baby?

[hlthe2b]

2. I hope that "stop work order" can be enforced. I don't know if the company is still destroying

on site, but THEY need to be issued it by DC authorities.

[Gore1FL]

20. Could Maryland revoke the contractor's incorporation or any licensing if they continue? nt

[Champp]

3. Doesn't matter - as long as the Republicans get to make a mess

and you can bet your ass they are making laundered $$$ for themselves, too

[flashman13]

4. Since contractors do not have blanket immunity compliments of SCOTUS, I doubt that they will ignore a stop order.

[Diraven]

8. Trump can just blanket pardon them

For all crimes past and future. He has that authority.

[Gore1FL]

21. But he can't get those contractors work in the future. nt

[flashman13]

35. You are absolutely on it Gore1FL!

[travelingthrulife]

42. Cabinet positions will open up eventually...

[MLWR]

5. I read that he is destroying the entire East Wing of the White House for his Throne Room.

[William Seger]

6. Another article of impeachment: Destruction of public property (nt)

[patphil]

7. The company doing the demolition without permits should be fined, and lose their construction license.

Anywhere else in America that company would be in a world of hurt.

[canetoad]

11. Anywhere in the civilized world

Rogue developers demolished a old, inner city pub in Melbourne, Au. without permits. They have been forced to submit plans to rebuild - at their own expense

[Diraven]

12. By who?

Everyone who would be involved in preventing, approving, or stopping this is a either a Trump appointee or can be fired and replaced by Trump.

[patphil]

32. You're absolutely correct. Biut that doesn't change the law...only the possibility of consequences.

Some day there will b e a reckoning.

[travelingthrulife]

43. This is why heaven was invented.

[canetoad]

9. Not surprised

He's a cowboy builder.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

10. Nothing stops Trump

[multigraincracker]

13. He should have to pay every thing out of his own pocket.

Only kind of lesson he can learn.

[travelingthrulife]

44. But he never pays it. Just keeps the appeals going.

[cliffside]

14. Demolition for new White House ballroom doesn't need approval, Trump-appointed commission head says

Posted here ...
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20738276

September 4, 2025

https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-national-planning-commission-approval-f537fa373705d560a9842b6250aee9ef

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Demolition to build President Donald Trump’s new ballroom off the East Wing of the White House can begin without approval of the commission tasked with vetting construction of federal buildings, the Trump-appointed head of the panel said Thursday.

Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary, said during a public meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission that the board does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property.

“What we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build,” Scharf said. He called Trump’s promised ballroom “one of the most exciting construction projects in the modern history of” Washington.

.... Scharf said the White House hadn’t yet submitted building plans for the White House renovations but when that happens, “I’m excited for us to play a role in the ballroom project when the time is appropriate for us to do so.”


Trump deputies take over powerful D.C. planning commission
Jul 11, 2025

https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/07/11/trump-deputies-take-over-powerful-dc-planning-commission

"Why it matters: The National Capital Planning Commission casts make-or-break votes on construction projects in key parts of the city and serves as tastemaker for design across the Washington region (see: the upcoming RFK Stadium redevelopment).

But in a twist, its three new presidentially-appointed members — all White House officials — are using it to needle Powell, claiming the Fed chair is mismanaging a costly rehab of the Fed's headquarters on Constitution Avenue, perhaps as pretext to fire him for not lowering interest rates.
Driving the news: The board's new chairman is Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary, also known as the man on TV who hands Trump executive orders to sign.

Michael Blair and Stuart Levenbach, also White House officials, were named to represent Virginia and Maryland, respectively."

[cbabe]

27. Will Scharf is tap dancing hard and fast but he's caught.

[cliffside]

39. Not sure he is caught but we'll see. nt

[cbabe]

40. Caught in his gaslighting lies, for starters.

[ShazzieB]

15. Anyone surprised by this?

No permits or plans have been submitted for the reconstruction of the new gold ballroom at the White House, a project initiated by President Donald Trump during the government shutdown, and a stop-work order has been issued.

Anyone surprised to learn that no permits or plans have been submitted for this travesty?

Yeah, I didn't think so. I just wish the Stop Work was issued before the devastation was this advanced. But here we are.

[Martin Eden]

16. Stop work altogether, then apply the $250 million

To rebuilding the East Wing exactly as it was.

[Initech]

18. And then tell him where he can go shove his stupid ballroom!

[Martin Eden]

25. His ass-hole is big enough

Nothing can fill the void in his empty soul.

[diane in sf]

17. He's a two year-old poop flinger. This is his answer to the success of the No Kings rallies.

[travelingthrulife]

45. Yup. He is proving he is a King.

[damifino10]

19. Probably no permits

[BidenRocks]

22. "Do you hear that? (Dozers)

That sounds like money!" Chump

[joanbarnes]

23. Surprise!

[Hotler]

24. OSHA needs to pay them a visit. nt

[Tribetime]

26. How is it even legal to tear down the east wing , it's not his f****** house

[TomSlick]

28. I read the linked stories. I can find no reference to a stop work order.

I can find that Trump was "urged" to stop work but I can't find that someone with the power to do so has issued an order.

The East Wing has been demolished. There may be time to stop the construction of Trump's monstrosity but the damage is done.

[cbabe]

34. Scroll down to stop work order

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/white-house-hasn-t-submitted-plans-for-trump-s-fancy-ballroom-despite-shocking-demolition/ar-AA1OZMdl

White House hasn't submitted plans for Trump's fancy ballroom despite shocking demolition
Story by Sarah K. Burris

No permits or plans have been submitted for the reconstruction of the new gold ballroom at the White House, a project initiated by President Donald Trump during the government shutdown, and a stop-work order has been issued.

… more …

[Joinfortmill]

29. When this shitshow ends, and it will end. Trump is a walking corpse.There is going to be hell to pay by a LOT of people.

[louis-t]

30. "It's a new law we just invented."

Will Scharf

[Maine-i-ac]

31. 100% legal according to the Supreme Court and Executive Order.

USSC: An illegal act committed during what the president thought were his presidential duties is not illegal.
EO: Only DJT and P. Bondi get to decide what is illegal.

[moniss]

33. Someone here on DU yesterday said they called

the contractor and the company claimed they had permits. OOOppppssss!!! Looks like a company rep might have fibbed!!!

[pat_k]

36. ACECO Demolition must pay a price for doing this.

[cbabe]

37. Send some dancing frogs to their office.

[pat_k]

38. I'm hoping more creative minds than mine can come up with a way that is more effective than that.

[Qutzupalotl]

41. On the positive side,

maybe pausing work at this stage, with asbestos in the air, will give the whole crew and WH staff mesothelioma.

[progressoid]

46. Like that matters?

Since when does following laws matter to them?