President Trump has announced that the White House ballroom is set to open in 2028, nearly two years into his second term. The project has faced criticism since it was planned to replace the destroyed White House East Wing with the ballroom. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued for lack of public review of the plans, but a federal appeals court ruled in April that construction could continue for the underground portion of the project. Meanwhile, Democrats and some Republicans have balked at the cost, with the proposal being included in a budget reconciliation proposal.