President Donald Trump has brought in a new lead architect for his ambitious $300 million White House ballroom project, following reported clashes with the original architect over the sheer scale of the plans.
Architectural Shake-Up Amid Scale Disputes
The original architect, James McCrery II, and his boutique firm had been working on the design for three months until October. According to reports, disagreements arose primarily over President Trump's desire to expand the size of the proposed ballroom. The Washington Post reported that a combination of McCrery's small team and struggles to meet deadlines ultimately led to the firm's departure from the lead role.
While it is not clear if McCrery left voluntarily, sources indicate the two men remain on good terms. The White House has confirmed that McCrery will stay involved in a consulting capacity as the project progresses.
Taking over the helm is Shalom Baranes, whose firm boasts significant experience with major federal projects in Washington D.C., including the main Treasury building. White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated that Baranes's decades of experience shaping the capital's architecture would be a "great asset" in realising President Trump's vision for what is billed as the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office.
Funding and Political Opposition
The White House has repeatedly emphasised that the 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be entirely privately funded, with no taxpayer money involved. The list of donors is reported to include tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google, as well as cryptocurrency firms and the family of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
This private funding model has not shielded the project from political controversy. The construction followed the demolition of the White House's East Wing earlier this year, a move that did not require submission of plans to the National Capital Planning Commission as it was classified as a demolition, not a construction project.
In response, Democrats have launched legislative efforts to impose restrictions. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the "No Palaces Act" on Thursday 5 December 2025. The proposed law would require commission approval for future demolitions and allow Congress to block changes to the historic building. Blumenthal accused President Trump of taking a "wrecking ball to the White House" to make way for a "monstrous, multi-million-dollar ballroom."
Next Steps and Submission Process
Will Scharf, Trump's staff secretary and chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, indicated that the White House intends to submit formal plans for the new ballroom later in December 2025. "Once plans are submitted, that's really when the role of this commission, and its professional staff, will begin," Scharf said at a meeting on Thursday.
This submission will mark a critical next phase, triggering official oversight and review processes for one of the most contentious and expensive private modifications to the President's official residence in modern history.
