Visitors to the White House could soon experience a dramatic shift in how they enter the nation’s most famous residence, thanks to an ambitious new proposal from the Trump administration. According to documents filed with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the administration is planning to construct a sprawling, 33,000-square-foot underground security screening facility on federal land in Sherman Park, just southeast of the White House. The NCPC, the federal body responsible for approving construction projects in the Washington, D.C., area, is set to consider the plans at its meeting scheduled for April 2, 2026.
The proposed facility represents a significant upgrade from the current system, where visitors line up in the open—sometimes braving uncomfortable weather—before passing through temporary trailers and tents for security checks. As White House spokesman Davis Ingle explained to CBS News, "For far too long, visitors to the White House have had a reduced experience where they were required to begin their tours by entering temporary, double wide trailers and tents outside, often in uncomfortable weather conditions." Ingle added, "This President took it upon himself to modernize the experience for visitors touring the People's House from beginning to end. President Trump is committed to giving all visitors to the White House the best experience possible. The new Visitor Center will be state of the art in design and highlight the beautiful history of the White House and our Nation's Capital."
The plans, developed by the Executive Office of the President in partnership with the U.S. Secret Service, the Interior Department, and the National Park Service, call for the facility to be constructed entirely on federal land within Sherman Park. The design aims to accommodate large groups of visitors, featuring multiple entry lanes for initial ID checks, a new lobby, and an additional checkpoint. If approved, construction could begin as early as this fall, with completion targeted for July 2028.
According to the NCPC’s submission, the facility’s architecture has been carefully considered to minimize its impact on the park’s historic landscape. "Most of the proposed structure is intentionally positioned below grade within the park’s west quadrant to reduce visual impact and to avoid a large existing sewer tunnel that sweeps through the southeast corner of the park," the plan states. Landscape restoration is also a priority, with new tree plantings promised to "reinstate and enhance the park’s character." At least six trees will be removed during construction, but these will be replaced with suitable native species, maintaining the park’s greenery and ecological balance.
Importantly, the plans ensure that the existing statue of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, a notable fixture in Sherman Park, will remain untouched. The NCPC emphasized that public access to the park will be maintained throughout the construction process and that the new facility is designed to avoid detracting from the surrounding buildings and monuments. The commission is also working to mitigate the project’s impact on other historic sites in the vicinity.
While the proposed screening center is the latest in a series of changes President Trump has made to the White House campus, it is by no means the only one. As reported by The New York Times, the president has been rapidly remaking the grounds. He has paved over grass in the Rose Garden to add a patio, now dubbed the “Rose Garden Club,” where he entertains political allies and business elites, even taking on the role of D.J. by selecting the music himself. The Oval Office and Cabinet Room have seen the addition of gold moldings and decorations, while the Palm Room boasts new marble floors and a chandelier. In a symbolic move, Trump replaced a photo of Hillary Clinton—former first lady and secretary of state—with an image of his own face colored with the American flag. Along the West Wing colonnade, gold-framed photos of every president except his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden Jr., now hang, with Biden depicted as an autopen.
Perhaps the most dramatic change on the White House campus has been the sudden demolition of the historic East Wing, long home to the offices of the first lady. In its place, the Trump administration is proposing a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The NCPC is expected to vote on this ballroom proposal at the same April 2 meeting where it will first hear the plans for the new visitor screening center.
While the administration is moving forward with these sweeping alterations, some details remain unresolved. For instance, the NCPC’s plans for the screening facility did not specify the estimated cost of the project or identify the source of funding. This omission has raised questions among local officials and preservationists, who are keen to ensure that the project does not come at the expense of the city’s historic character or the federal budget.
The facility’s location in Sherman Park is also significant. The park, a green oasis adjacent to the White House, has long served as a gathering point for visitors and a symbol of the city’s rich history. In recent years, visitors have assembled in Lafayette Park due to ongoing construction at the White House, but the new screening center would return much of this activity to Sherman Park—albeit in a more organized and weather-protected fashion.
Some observers have voiced concerns about the cumulative impact of the Trump administration’s changes to the White House campus. Preservationists worry that the scale and style of the new constructions—particularly the underground screening facility and the proposed ballroom—could alter the historic landscape in ways that are difficult to reverse. However, the administration has emphasized its commitment to preserving the park’s character and enhancing its aesthetic appeal through careful landscaping and design choices.
Despite these assurances, the proposed changes have not been without controversy. The administration has already faced backlash over other major construction projects in Washington, including the two-year renovation of the Kennedy Center and the possible construction of additional facilities on federal land. Each project has prompted debate about the balance between modernization and preservation in the nation’s capital.
As the NCPC prepares to review the proposals for the visitor screening center and the new ballroom, all eyes will be on how the commission navigates these competing priorities. The outcome of the April 2 meeting could set the tone for future projects on federal land in Washington, shaping the visitor experience—and the city’s landscape—for years to come.
In the end, the Trump administration’s ambitious plans for the White House campus reflect a broader vision of modernization and grandeur. Whether these changes will be embraced by the public and preservationists alike remains to be seen, but for now, visitors can expect a very different experience the next time they come to tour the People’s House.