Public access to the White House has been temporarily suspended for approximately two months, primarily due to significant renovations taking place in the East Wing. Officials informed CBS News that the suspension of tours is a direct result of ongoing demolition and the construction of a new ballroom. These changes have made it impossible to conduct public visits during this period.
Despite the current pause on tours, White House officials have indicated that they expect to unveil an updated tour route in the coming days. Along with this new route, they are also planning to accommodate various public events, including the highly anticipated Halloween trick-or-treating event. Members of Congress, who typically receive requests for White House tours from their constituents, noted that bookings were suspended in late August.
The suspended tours typically included access to iconic public rooms within the East Wing, such as the Vermeil Room, Library, China Room, Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room, and the State Dining Room of the White House residence. A message displayed on the tour website back in the summer stated that the new White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building, yet it will retain a similar theme and architectural heritage.
As construction progresses, first lady Melania Trump's office has relocated to the ground floor of the White House. Meanwhile, East Wing staff members have temporarily set up their desks in the China Room, with aides now gathering in the map room. Additional staff from the calligraphy office, White House Military Office, legislative affairs, and the visitors' office have been moved to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for the duration of the renovations.
The White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and providing public access to the White House, has confirmed that it took proactive measures to document the East Wing before the demolition began. Established by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, the association has undertaken a comprehensive digital scanning project and photography to create a historic record of the East Wing and its gardens.
This week, construction crews have commenced the process of dismantling the eastern facade of the White House to pave the way for the upcoming ballroom. A spokesperson for the White House Historical Association emphasized the importance of this documentation effort, ensuring that the history and architectural significance of the East Wing will not be forgotten even as it undergoes significant changes.
