President Donald Trump’s administration has initiated work to modernise the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, the secure underground facility beneath the White House, as part of a wider renovation of the East Wing that is also making way for a new state ballroom.

The bunker, known officially as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center and originally built during World War II to protect the commander-in-chief and senior officials in emergencies, is being upgraded by the White House Military Office with enhanced security and communications capabilities to meet contemporary operational requirements.

Sources familiar with the project say the work is proceeding alongside demolition and reconstruction of the historic East Wing, which was removed late last year to clear space for the planned White House State Ballroom — a large formal events venue that President Trump has championed as a major expansion of the executive residence.

The emergency operations centre serves as a command and sheltering facility designed to support continuity of governance in threats ranging from natural disasters to military attacks, and its modernisation reflects both the strategic importance of the structure and the broader ambition of the administration to update critical infrastructure at the White House complex.

The renovation effort has drawn attention not only for the ballroom project above ground but also for the implications of enhancing the subterranean facility, which in past crises including the September 11 attacks provided a secure location for senior U.S. leadership.

Officials have characterised the upgrades as part of routine security improvements, emphasising the necessity of ensuring that the nation’s continuity facilities remain robust and capable in an era of evolving threats.

While details of the specific enhancements to the bunker remain classified for security reasons, Trump’s broader overhaul of the White House estate has accelerated in recent months, with the East Wing demolition and ballroom construction moving forward.

Critics have raised questions about historic preservation and oversight, but administration defenders contend that modernization of both ceremonial and security infrastructure will strengthen the executive residence for future state functions and reinforce protections for national leadership.

As the projects advance, they illustrate an intersection between heritage, national security and the president’s personal imprint on the institution’s physical footprint.