(The Hill) – The Treasury Department told employees not to share images of the White House demolition, as construction for President Trump’s $200 million ballroom kicked off in the East Wing on Monday.
Treasury employees have a front-seat view to the construction, since the department’s headquarters are located by the East Wing. As images of the facade’s dismantling went viral Monday night, the Treasury Department warned its staff of “security” issues related to sharing the photos.
Who’s funding Trump’s $250M ballroom renovation?
“Carelessly shared photographs of the White House complex during this process could potentially reveal sensitive items, including security features or confidential structural details,” a Treasury spokesperson told The Hill in an email.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have urged our employees to avoid sharing these images,” the spokesperson added.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the Treasury Department sent out an email to its employees Monday evening urging restraint before disseminating photos of the construction.
“As construction proceeds on the White House grounds, employees should refrain from taking and sharing photographs of the grounds, to include the East Wing, without prior approval from the Office of Public Affairs,” the email read, according to the Journal.
Demolition crews started the process of tearing down part of the East Wing on Monday to begin construction on the planned ballroom.
Trump hosts glitzy dinner for wealthy donors to new White House ballroom
“It just started today, so that’s good luck,” the president said during an event in the East Room hosting two national champion college baseball teams.
Trump noted there will be a knockout panel behind where he delivered the remarks in the East Room that will go into the new ballroom.
“I don’t think it will be topped,” he said, referring to the project.
From the Rose Garden to a ballroom, Trump set to leave ‘permanent stamp’ on White House
The ballroom’s construction is slated to cost $200 million, which Trump has said would be shouldered, at least in part, by donors, or “patriots,” as he has referred to them.
The White House has said the event space would be 90,000 square feet and constructed next to where the East Wing is located. It historically served as a space for first ladies and members of their staff. The administration’s goal is to complete the ballroom before Trump’s second term wraps in 2029.
