“… critics, aghast about images of the White House walls crumbling after Trump had pledged the project would not interfere with the existing landmark, said a review process should have taken place before the work began.
The White House still intends to submit those plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction in Washington and neighboring states, a White House official told Reuters.
… The commission is now led by Will Scharf, a White House aide.
Asked why the demolition of East Wing walls was occurring despite Trump's promise that it would not affect the existing building, the official said modernization work was required in the East Wing and changes had always been a possibility.
… The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Tuesday asked the Trump administration to pause the demolition until the planning commission review was completed. Its letter expressed concern that the proposed 90,000 square foot ballroom "will overwhelm the White House itself." The White House is 55,000 square feet.
…
Doing the same kind of review this time would have avoided the shock that many observers felt this week when the demolition began unannounced on Monday. Trump later said ground had been broken on the project after images of the demolition started circulating in news reports.
"You don't have the image of a wrecking ball hitting the president's house, one of the most important buildings in our country, by surprise to everyone except a small handful of people," Green said.
Trump's White House dismissed criticism, calling it "manufactured outrage." It pointed to additions and renovations that have been made to the executive mansion and its grounds by presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.…”
