Reports have emerged that former President Donald Trump's highly publicised $400 million ballroom project at the White House is masking a far more secretive and classified construction endeavour. According to sources and court documents, this covert work involves substantial renovations to the historic underground presidential bunker, a facility first commissioned in 1941 for protection during attacks.
Classified Construction Beneath the Ballroom
Building work has been ongoing since October following Trump's unveiling of plans for his lavish new ballroom, with costs now estimated to reach up to $400 million. However, court filings obtained by CNN indicate that a simultaneous, classified project is underway. White House director of management and administration, Joshua Fisher, previously stated that the overall East Wing project would "[enhance] mission critical functionality" and "make necessary security enhancements."
During a recent meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, Fisher acknowledged the secretive nature of the work, saying, "There are some things regarding this project that are, frankly, of top-secret nature that we are currently working on." He added that this classified work necessitated beginning demolition for the ballroom before specific permission had been granted by the commission.
National Security Justifications
The White House has defended the East Wing demolition in court filings, arguing that halting the process would "endanger national security and therefore impair the public interest." A source close to the project told CNN with "a high degree of confidence" that all subterranean structures appear to have been removed to facilitate refurbishment.
Observers and sources speculate that the "top secret work" involves a comprehensive refurbishment of the underground presidential bunker. This facility, initially constructed in 1941 to protect the president during potential attacks, has evolved significantly over the decades. "All the infrastructure is 1940s infrastructure," CNN's source noted, highlighting the need for modernisation.
The Evolving Role of the Presidential Bunker
The subterranean facility, designed as a shelter from nuclear blasts, includes living quarters with beds, food, water, and other essential supplies. It also features external communication facilities and the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a centralised command and control facility enabling administration officials to contact the outside world during emergencies.
Over the years, the bunker has been utilised for various national security events. It served as an evacuation point for Vice President Dick Cheney during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and was involved in planning President Joe Biden's secret trip to Ukraine in 2023. Sources indicate that several contingency plans remain in place should the president need evacuation while bunker renovations continue.
Financial Implications and Secrecy
While Trump has repeatedly stated that private donors will cover the costs of his presidential ballroom, the expenses for refurbishing and fortifying the bunker will likely fall to taxpayers. The exact costs may never be publicly disclosed due to the classified nature of the project.
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment regarding the reported plans to revamp the bunker beneath the White House. As construction progresses, the balance between presidential luxury projects and essential national security infrastructure continues to draw scrutiny and speculation from observers and officials alike.
