The U.S. Treasury Department has instructed its employees to refrain from taking or sharing photos of the ongoing White House East Wing demolition, where construction crews are preparing the site for a massive new ballroom ordered by President Donald Trump.
The directive, confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday, follows a wave of viral images showing excavators tearing down portions of the building.
The images, which surfaced online Monday, captured major demolition activity as part of the project to build a 90,000-square-foot, $250 million ballroom. The new addition, described as a grand expansion of the presidential residence, has sparked both fascination and criticism.
In July, Trump defended the ballroom project, assuring the public that the construction would not interfere with the existing White House structure. “It’ll be near it but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” he said at the time.
However, the proximity of the Treasury Department to the East Wing has made it easy for employees to witness and potentially photograph the demolition. Concerned about the possibility of sensitive information being unintentionally exposed, Treasury leadership stepped in.
“Carelessly shared photographs of the White House complex could reveal sensitive items, potentially including security features or confidential structural details,” a Treasury spokesperson told NBC. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have urged our employees to avoid sharing these images.”
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the internal message to Treasury staff, which has since drawn attention across social media. The photos from the Washington Post that showed portions of the East Wing being torn down quickly went viral, prompting mixed reactions.
One of the more vocal critics was Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration. “Trump’s billionaire ballroom. This is a disgrace. Welcome to the Second Gilded Age,” Soto wrote, sharing one of the viral images of the demolition site.
Despite criticism from some lawmakers and commentators, Trump maintains that the ballroom’s construction is being privately financed by himself and donors, rather than with taxpayer funds. The project reportedly aims to create an elegant venue for hosting state functions, galas, and official ceremonies once completed.
The 90,000-square-foot structure is expected to be one of the largest additions ever made to the White House grounds, symbolizing both Trump’s vision for grandeur and his ongoing influence on the property’s legacy.
While no official timeline for completion has been announced, sources familiar with the project say the construction phase could extend well into 2026. For now, the demolition has drawn attention not just for its scale, but also for the heightened secrecy surrounding it – with federal employees warned to keep their cameras off as history is quite literally being rebuilt next door.
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