The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on Feb. 19 approved a proposal for a new White House ballroom, advancing a major renovation project at the executive residence.
The commission—whose members were appointed by President Donald Trump—was originally scheduled to only review and discuss the ballroom’s design, planned for the site of the former East Wing. Instead, six of the seven commissioners voted to approve the proposal. Commissioner James McCrery abstained, citing his prior involvement as the project’s original architect.
