The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) has postponed a vote on Donald Trump's proposed $400m ballroom addition to the White House, citing a large volume of public comments, most of which oppose the plan. The vote, originally expected on Thursday, will now take place on 2 April.
NCPC chair Will Scharf, a top Trump aide, announced the delay at the start of the meeting, stating the commission needed time to deliberate. The commission released over 9,000 pages of public comments, with more than 35,000 submissions, a majority opposing the 90,000 sq ft ballroom that would replace the demolished East Wing.
A New York Times analysis found over 98% of roughly 32,000 comments opposed the project, describing the design as 'gaudy and cheap'. Despite this, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism as an 'organized campaign of Trump-deranged liberals'.
The delay follows Trump's appointment of allies to the NCPC, and the commission's executive director has recommended approval. The Commission of Fine Arts, also stacked with Trump loyalists, approved the project last month. Historic preservation groups, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, have sued to block construction, arguing laws were violated.
