Marble selection and ballroom dimensions dominate project scope Trump visited Arc Stone & Tile near Mar‑a‑Lago to examine marble samples for a planned 90,000‑square‑foot White House ballroom, a space whose cost estimate has risen from roughly $200 million to about $400 million as the design expands [1][2]. The marble will be purchased with Trump’s personal funds and private donations, not taxpayer money, and renderings show a gold‑and‑white interior with lavish details [1][2].

Funding model fuels legal and political challenges Administration officials assert the renovations are entirely privately financed, a claim contested by Rep. Jamie Raskin, who introduced legislation to protect the historic building from private alterations [2]. A court battle continues over the project’s bypass of traditional planning commissions, highlighting tension between executive authority and preservation statutes [1]. Former adviser Scott Jennings defended the ballroom as a historic update consistent with past presidential renovations [2].

Accelerated timeline and administrative shortcuts shape rollout Early approvals aim to start construction in spring, with public meetings slated for January and final presentations to two planning boards within months, targeting completion by mid‑2028 [1]. Trump appointed White House staff secretary Will Scharf to lead the National Capital Planning Commission, effectively sidestepping standard review processes before groundbreaking [1].