White House tours suspended for $200 million ballroom construction

In August 2025, the Trump administration announced that all public tours of the White House would be paused indefinitely due to significant construction work on a new ballroom. The announcement followed communication from various congressional offices to ABC News, indicating that the pause would begin in early September. Approximately 10,000 people had been touring the White House each week during President Biden's administration, showcasing the popularity of public access to this historic building. The ballroom construction project is reportedly estimated to cost about $200 million and will cover an area of approximately 90,000 square feet. Initial preparations for the project had begun in February 2025, leading to the anticipated disruption of public tours. Congressional representatives expressed their concern, apologizing to constituents who had already submitted requests for tours during the construction timeline. The White House's official website, while not detailing this specific pause in tours, does acknowledge the upcoming expansion project and its commencement date. According to the information relayed from White House officials to various congressional offices, the termination of tours is attributed to both construction projects and extensive renovations planned for the White House. These reasons indicate a broader initiative to upgrade and enhance the White House facilities. The new ballroom is part of ongoing renovations that also included recent work on the Rose Garden and updates to the Oval Office's decor, thus reflecting President Trump's vision for the establishment. As the construction is set to commence, officials mentioned that they would not be able to outline a clear timeline for the completion of the ballroom. This lack of clarity raises further concerns regarding when public tours might resume. Congressional aides have shared their frustrations about the absence of guidance from the White House, indicating that until Labor Day, additional details regarding tour availability were anticipated. This communication breakdown could impact public sentiment toward the administration, especially among those who value access to the White House as a symbol of transparency and engagement.