OAN Staff Lillian Mann
4:56 PM – Monday, March 30, 2026
President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday the construction of a “massive” military complex beneath the White House ballroom, a project previously kept under wraps until it was revealed in a recent lawsuit.
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will sit directly above the “doomsday” nuclear bunker originally constructed in the 1940s to protect sitting presidents.
“Now, the military is building a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed,” Trump stated.
The nuclear bunker is located beneath the East Wing, which was demolished last year to clear the way for the new $400 million project.
Overview: Details of the Project
- The ballroom: The 90,000-square-foot structure is designed to host up to 999 guests for state dinners and major events. Trump described the ballroom as a “monument” and essentially a “shield” or “shed” for the operations occurring beneath it.
- The military complex: While specific operational details remain classified, the facility replaces the former Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), which was dismantled during the demolition of the East Wing in 2025.
- Security features: Trump stated that the project includes “high-grade bulletproof glass” and “drone-proof” roofs and ceilings.
- Funding: The administration reiterated that the $400 million ballroom is being funded entirely by President Trump and private donors, though the “top secret” military portion of the subterranean construction is handled separately by the Department of War (DoW).
“But the military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that’s under construction, and we’re doing very well, we have all bullet-proof glass, we have drone-proof roofs, ceilings. Unfortunately, we’re living in an age when that’s a good thing,” the president said.
Previously known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, most of the details on the project have been kept hidden until now. During a flight from Florida to D.C., Trump detailed the upcoming plans to reporters, calling the structure “almost a twin to the White House.”
“The ballroom essentially becomes a shed,” he noted.
“I’m so busy that I don’t have time to do this, but I’m fighting wars and other things,” he added. “But this is very important, because this is going to be with us for a long time, and it’s going to be, I think it’ll be the greatest ballroom anywhere in the world.”
Last month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) filed a lawsuit to halt construction, claiming that the Trump Administration bypassed mandatory reviews and public input.
While U.S. District Judge Richard Leon initially rejected the suit, he also suggested that the NTHP could find better success by “amending” its legal arguments.
The project’s fate now rests on two critical milestones: a pivotal vote by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) on April 2, 2026, and a decision by Judge Leon — expected by the end of this month — on whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would freeze construction during the litigation.
“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, [the] Plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” Leon wrote.
However, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) has warned in court documents that efforts to stop the construction could create unnecessary national security concerns.
The proposed project will respect the original’s design, will not exceed the White House in height, and it will be a more suitable setting for official occasions, Trump added.
“Now it’s no secret the military wanted it more than anybody,” Trump said in a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. “It was supposed to be secret but it became un-secret because of people that are really unpatriotic saying things. But, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to be great.”
“This ballroom is gonna be something. It’s so beautiful for this city, so desperately needed by presidents,” Trump said.
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