A wrecking ball at the White House

The White House started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Trump's $250-million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

- DARLENE SUPERVILLE

THE FACADE of the East Wing of the White House is demolished as part of a plan to build a ballroom.

ANDREW HARNIK Getty Images

Dramatic photos of the demolition work that began Monday showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground.

Some reporters watched from a park near the Treasury Department, which is next to the East Wing.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that the plan now called for the demolition of the entire East Wing and that the teardown should be completed by Sunday. Citing a source, The Times said it marks an escalation over earlier plans for the ballroom.

Trump announced the start of construction in a social media post and referenced the work while hosting 2025 college baseball champions Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room. He noted the work was happening “right behind us.”

“We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically,” he said, adding, "It just started today."

The White House has moved ahead with the massive construction project despite not yet having sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area.