• Trump hires Shalom Baranes Associates to lead the $300 million White House ballroom project.
• The original architect, James McCrery, will serve in a consulting role following disagreements over project scope.
• The ballroom’s cost has escalated from $200 million to potentially $350 million, with concerns over funding sources.
• Demolition of the East Wing has raised preservationist concerns regarding historical structure oversight.
• The National Capital Planning Commission will review the ballroom plans following the completed demolition.

President Donald Trump has selected Shalom Baranes Associates as the new architect for the White House ballroom, a project with an estimated budget of $300 million. This decision marked a shift from James McCrery, who initially led the project but will now remain as a consultant. White House spokesman Davis Ingle praised Baranes, stating, “Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nation’s capital for decades” according to BBC, India Times, and Los Angeles Times.

Conflicts regarding the project arose as McCrery and Trump disagreed over the ballroom's size and design features, leading to tensions within the planning phase. Originally, the project was slated to feature a 90,000-square-foot ballroom accommodating 650 guests but has seen a proposed increase to 1,350 guests, causing substantial cost hikes. Reports indicate budget estimates have spiraled from $200 million to as much as $350 million, funded by private donors, including multinational corporations and billionaires, prompting concerns about possible conflicts of interest related to Trump’s business dealings according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.

The East Wing, previously home to the first lady’s office, was demolished in October to make room for the new ballroom, inciting criticism from preservationists concerned about the lack of approval from governing commissions. The administration plans to submit the ballroom designs for review to the National Capital Planning Commission, although it claims that the commission has no authority regarding the demolition, as reported by BBC and India Times.