1941 – Roosevelt orders a secret underground bunker beneath the East Wing after Pearl Harbor, creating a protected presidential facility that later becomes part of the White House complex [5].

Oct 2025 – Trump orders the rapid demolition of the 123‑year‑old East Wing, clearing the site in days for a new ballroom and drawing criticism for sidestepping historic‑preservation safeguards [7][13][30].

Dec 8, 2025 – Contractors resume East Wing demolition despite pending lawsuits, reinforcing the administration’s push to replace the wing with a massive ballroom [20].

Dec 12, 2025 – The National Trust for Historic Preservation files a lawsuit in D.C. District Court seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the ballroom until required federal reviews, environmental assessments, and congressional approval are completed [12][30].

Dec 15, 2025 – The Justice Department submits a 36‑page brief arguing the ballroom and demolition are required for national‑security reasons, offering to share classified details with the judge [20][28].

Dec 16, 2025 – Judge Richard Leon leans toward denying a temporary restraining order, noting the plaintiffs have not shown irreparable harm and warning against locking in underground work that could cement the ballroom’s scope [29].

Dec 16, 2025 – Judge Leon refuses an emergency injunction, allowing limited underground work to continue while keeping open the possibility of later court action [11].

Dec 31, 2025 – Chief usher Gary Walters says presidents have long sought larger entertaining spaces, framing Trump’s 90,000‑sq‑ft ballroom as part of a historical pattern of White House expansions [26].

Dec 31, 2025 – Trump posts updated Palm Room photos and hints at marble finishes for a “Trump‑Kennedy Center,” emphasizing that all renovations are privately funded [19].

Jan 1, 2026 – The White House releases an eight‑week schedule to push the ballroom through the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, aiming to secure approvals before any above‑ground construction begins [17].

Jan 2, 2026 – Trump visits a Florida stone supplier near Mar‑a‑Lago to select marble for the ballroom, confirming the material will be paid for with his personal funds [10].

Jan 8, 2026 – The White House presents an information package to the National Capital Planning Commission outlining a 90,000‑sq‑ft East Wing ballroom, its security rationale, and a target completion date of summer 2028 [9].

Jan 8, 2026 – Officials argue preserving the East Wing is financially untenable, citing structural decay, water damage, and higher long‑term ownership costs; they estimate the ballroom’s price tag at $400 million [25].

Jan 9, 2026 – The White House reports that demolishing the East Wing is cheaper than renovating, projecting total ballroom costs of $400 million—about double the original estimate [2].

Jan 9, 2026 – The National Capital Planning Commission reviews detailed plans for a grand stair, a two‑story West Wing colonnade, and a 22,000‑sq‑ft ballroom seating 1,000, while DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson criticizes the project’s scale [8].

Jan 16‑17, 2026 – Trump appoints four new members—Mary Anne Carter, Roger Kimball, Matthew Taylor, and James McCrery—to the Commission of Fine Arts, restoring a quorum for a Jan 22 meeting on the East Wing modernization [24].

Jan 22, 2026 – The all‑Trump‑appointed Fine Arts panel questions the “immense” design but affirms the ballroom’s national importance; architect Shalom Baranes outlines a 90,000‑sq‑ft addition with a 22,000‑sq‑ft ballroom [23].

Jan 22, 2026 – Judge Richard Leon expresses skepticism that Congress authorized the $400 million ballroom, suggesting the administration is end‑running statutory spending limits and indicating a ruling is forthcoming [6].

Feb 3, 2026 – Trump shares a new rendering of the ballroom on Truth Social, depicting a view from the Treasury building, reiterating a $400 million price tag and a need to replace “tiny, dilapidated” East Wing facilities [16].

Feb 4, 2026 – Trump announces a 250‑foot Independence Arch near the Lincoln Memorial, touting it as a long‑awaited national symbol and linking it to the 250th‑anniversary celebrations, though historians dispute the claimed precedent [22].

Feb 19, 2026 – The all‑Trump‑appointed Commission of Fine Arts fast‑tracks and then gives final approval to the ballroom design, endorsing a 90,000‑sq‑ft space that would dwarf the White House and confirming a $400 million private‑funded budget [1][4][15].

Feb 19, 2026 – The Fine Arts commission notes that over 99 % of more than 2,000 public comments oppose the project, highlighting widespread public resistance despite the panel’s approval [1][15].

Feb 19, 2026 – The commission schedules a final review by the National Capital Planning Commission for March 5, 2026, keeping the project on track for a projected summer 2028 completion [1][15].

Mar 5, 2026 (future) – The National Capital Planning Commission is set to meet and vote on the ballroom proposal, a key step before above‑ground construction can proceed [1][15].

Summer 2028 (future) – The administration targets summer 2028 for the ballroom’s completion, aiming to provide a permanent, secure venue for state functions and eliminate reliance on costly temporary tents [9][11][17].