The National Capital Planning Commission has scheduled its first formal session on President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom project, setting an informational hearing for January eighth, two thousand twenty-six.

The event, part of the commission’s regular meeting agenda, will provide an initial presentation on the East Wing Modernization Project, which includes plans to build a sprawling new ballroom on the site where the White House’s historic East Wing once stood.

Trump’s administration is expected to deliver details on the design, scope and purpose of the structure as federal review of the initiative begins.

The ballroom proposal, which envisages a ninety-thousand-square-foot facility capable of accommodating large official functions, has proven contentious.

While the White House asserts that former East Wing demolition and forthcoming construction are within presidential authority and funded entirely by private donations, preservationists and lawmakers have questioned the pace of work and the absence of early public review and environmental assessments.

A lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation seeks to halt or delay the project pending comprehensive review and congressional oversight.

Preservation advocates argue that the ballroom, which would be larger than the existing White House residence itself, could fundamentally alter the historic character of the Executive Mansion and its grounds.

They have emphasised that federal land development laws typically require detailed plans be submitted to review bodies, including the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, as well as opportunities for public input.

Although the commission has indicated that above-ground construction is still pending formal review, the January presentation marks the beginning of the planning review process.

The administration’s decision to place the East Wing Modernization on the January agenda follows a federal judge’s indication that the administration must submit ballroom plans for review within televised deadlines, amid legal wrangling over whether demolition and preparatory work should have awaited formal review.

With both legal and public scrutiny intensifying, the January hearing will be watched closely by preservation groups, lawmakers and architectural historians alike as the ballroom project moves into the next phase of public and regulatory examination.