White House Ballroom Architect Resigns Over Safety Concerns
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White House Ballroom Architect Resigns Over Safety Concerns
- James McCrery II, the initial architect for the White House ballroom project, resigned in October 2025 after raising concerns that the proposed designs violated fire and safety codes.
- McCrery reportedly clashed with President Donald Trump, who dismissed the architect's warnings by stating, "I am the code."
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James McCrery II, the first architect assigned to the White House ballroom project, resigned in October 2025 due to disagreements over design features that he believed violated building safety codes. According to sources, McCrery repeatedly warned that President Donald Trump’s insisted-upon preliminary designs did not include adequate emergency exit routes or fire-containment measures. Trump reportedly disregarded these concerns, asserting that no building codes applied to White House construction, stating, “I am the code.”
The White House announced the ballroom project in July 2025, describing it as a 90,000-square-foot expansion intended to host larger events than the current East Room, which has a seated capacity of 200 people. The new ballroom is designed to accommodate 650 guests. The project, estimated to cost between $200 million and $400 million, is reportedly funded by private donations. Demolition of the East Wing, where the new ballroom is being constructed, began in October 2025.
Following McCrery’s resignation, Shalom Baranes was appointed as the new architect for the project in December 2025. The White House stated that compliance with safety codes has been a priority and that life safety issues have been continuously addressed. The administration has also cited national security concerns as a rationale for the project, describing it as a “massive” military complex “vital” to national security, especially after a federal appeals court ruled in March 2026 that construction must stop unless authorized by Congress. Renderings of the project have shown features like a droneport on the roof and materials described as “missile-resistant” and “blast-proof.”