President Donald Trump has indefinitely suspended public tours of the White House to allow construction of a new $200 million ballroom, due to begin on 1 September 2025. The project will transform the East Wing into a 90,000-square-foot event space designed to host up to 650 guests.
The suspension halts a long-standing tradition, as thousands of visitors tour the White House each week. Members of Congress and tour organisers have already begun informing visitors that all September bookings are cancelled, with no timetable yet for when access might resume.
Officials said the scale of construction would affect security screening and visitor entry points, making it impossible to continue tours during the renovation. The decision has disappointed families, school groups and tourists who had planned visits months in advance.
The ballroom, funded by private donations, will be the largest renovation in years. Trump has argued that the White House needs more capacity for social events, saying current facilities are inadequate. Critics, however, have raised concerns that the expansion comes at the cost of public access to one of America’s most iconic landmarks.
Until tours resume, visitors are being encouraged to explore other historic sites in Washington, D.C.
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