Full Breakdown
New Underground Visitor Screening Facility Approved for the White House
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New Underground Visitor Screening Facility Approved
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) voted unanimously to approve final design and building plans for an underground visitor-screening facility on the White House grounds. The 33,000-square-foot structure will be built beneath Sherman Park, southeast of the White House and directly south of the Treasury building. It will accommodate up to 700 people at a time and feature a versatile indoor open-floor-plan that allows the Secret Service to install permanent screening technology and provide indoor queuing for large events.
Background and Context
The project is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to remodel the White House complex, which has already produced a 90,000-square-foot ballroom replacing the former East Wing. Visitors have long been screened in temporary double-wide trailers and tents that the Secret Service has described as insufficient for security needs. Recent security concerns—including multiple assassination attempts on President Trump during the 2024 campaign and a fatal shooting near a White House checkpoint in May 2026—have heightened the administration’s push for a permanent facility.
Key Figures
- Mark Paoletta – Chairman of the NCPC and Trump appointee, who expressed enthusiasm for the new building.
- Lee Webb – Urban planner with the 12-member commission, presented the final plans and highlighted the facility’s capacity and design features.
- Evan Cash – Commission member who suggested a site tour that other members supported.
Timeline and Construction Schedule
The commission’s approval occurred on a Thursday (date not specified). Construction is slated to begin within the next month, with completion projected for sometime in 2028. The administration aims to have the facility operational by July 2028, roughly six months before the end of President Trump’s second term.
Anticipated Impact
Officials say the permanent underground facility will replace the long-used temporary tents, improve overall security for public tours, large-event guests, staff, and contractors, and align architecturally with the adjacent ballroom project. The design includes Corinthian columns at the exit to echo the ballroom’s language, reinforcing the aesthetic continuity of the White House’s ongoing renovations.