The US Treasury asks its employees not to share photos of construction work in the White House

The US Treasury Department has instructed its employees not to share photos of the demolition of parts of the East Wing of the White House, after photos of construction equipment dismantling the facade of the building spread widely on the Internet.

The Treasury Department’s headquarters is located next to the East Wing, allowing department employees the opportunity to see the construction work of President Donald Trump’s $250 million banquet hall. This new project is scheduled to replace parts of the east wing.

“As construction continues on the White House, staff should refrain from taking and sharing photos of the grounds, including the East Wing, without prior approval from the Office of Public Affairs,” a Treasury Department official wrote in an email to department staff, seen by The Wall Street Journal. A ministry spokesman said the email was sent to employees because the images could “reveal sensitive information, including confidential security features or structural details.”

Entertainment space

For its part, the White House did not respond to a request for comment on the letter, and during an event held there last week, Trump described the new banquet hall as a luxurious entertainment space for VIPs.

The president told those attending the event: “There is a lot of construction work going on, and you may hear some noise from time to time,” stressing that the hall will be funded by private donations.

White House officials explained that the area of ​​the banquet hall will be at least 90,000 square feet, and can accommodate more than 650 seats.

The East Room, where many large events in the White House are currently held, can accommodate 200 seats, while the main area of ​​the White House, excluding the eastern and western wings, is about 55,000 square feet.

President’s dream

Trump wrote on the Truth Social website: “For more than 150 years, every president has dreamed of having a hall in the White House to accommodate large parties, official visits, etc., and I am honored to be the first president to finally launch this absolutely necessary project.”

The construction project was met with criticism from Democrats, as Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, wrote on her social media pages: “Seeing part of the White House destroyed is truly a symbol of the era in which we live.”

In turn, White House Communications Director, Stephen Cheung, wrote on the “X” platform: “The building has always been part of the development of the White House,” adding: “Those who are quick to criticize should stop clinging to the illusion and understand that the building needs to be modernized, otherwise they are only living in the past.”

Trump’s legacy

In preparation for the start of construction, work teams moved large trees away from the site, and historical pieces were removed from the eastern wing. Trump has repeatedly discussed the need for a banquet hall, as the White House sometimes hosts guests in tight spaces. Formal dinners are often held on the South Lawn in temporary tents.

Trump considers the new hall an important part of his legacy, and since taking office, he has redecorated parts of the White House complex, including the Rose Garden, the Oval Office, the Palm Room, and the columns. Two large flag poles have also been installed at the north and south entrances to the White House, and the president inspects his construction projects on a regular basis. About “The Wall Street Journal”

Different path

US President Donald Trump finally changed his route on his way back to the White House from his golf club in the Virginia suburbs to Dulles International Airport. His press team reported that he wanted to take a different path to evaluate potential future projects. The president’s allies in the Capitol building proposed renaming the airport after Trump.

In a related context, last week, Trump revealed plans to build a large white arch in a roundabout opposite Arlington National Cemetery. Trump presented a design for the arch, which some called the “Trump Arch,” during a dinner with donors who are financing the construction of the White House Banquet Hall.

• Trump considered that having a hall in the White House to accommodate large parties and official visits is a dream for every American president.

• 90,000 square feet of space in the new concert hall, which can accommodate more than 650 seats.