Trump’s Washington makeover: Update on every major renovation project

President Donald Trump is reshaping some of Washington, D.C.’s most prominent landmarks, with a series of renovation and construction projects spanning the White House, National Mall and Kennedy Center.

The much-debated plans range from the White House ballroom and visitor screening center to changes at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, alongside major new projects including the National Garden of American Heroes and a proposed triumphal arch.

Some are already complete, while others remain in planning or construction and could still take years to finish.

The projects vary widely in cost and funding, with some backed by private donations and others drawing on hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money.

Trump has repeatedly framed his renovation projects as part of a broader effort to remake Washington, arguing that the capital has suffered from years of neglect. In August 2025, he said the city had “the greatest bones” but was “dirty and not properly maintained,” adding: “We’re going to also fix up a place called Washington, D.C. We’re going to make it so beautiful again.”

His March 2025 executive order on the capital similarly called for “beautiful, clean, and safe public spaces” and said Washington’s monuments, buildings and museums should inspire appreciation for the country’s “strength, greatness, and heritage.”

But the vast array of projects has not been without scrutiny. Several have sparked lawsuits regarding preservation concerns and disputes over Trump’s authority to alter historic federal sites.

Here is a round up of where each major project currently stands:

White House East Wing and Ballroom

President Donald Trump’s most substantial White House construction project is a new ballroom and associated East Wing complex, replacing the historic East Wing that was demolished in October 2025.

The planned building spans roughly 90,000 square feet and is designed to hold close to 1,000 guests, while the wider project includes underground security facilities, bomb shelters and other military infrastructure.

Trump has repeatedly put the ballroom’s cost at less than $400 million and initially said it would be financed entirely through his own money and private donors.

However, a contractor estimate obtained by The Washington Post in June put the wider project at about $600 million, with more than half expected to come from taxpayer-funded work by the Secret Service, White House Military Office and Executive Residence.

“This is taxpayer-free. We have no taxpayer putting up 10 cents,” Trump said in March. He has said construction is ahead of schedule and has targeted an opening around September 2028.

But Trump’s timeline is now uncertain because of a legal challenge from The National Trust for Historic Preservation, who argue Trump lacked authority to demolish and rebuild such a significant part of the White House complex without congressional approval.

On August 7, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that above-ground ballroom construction could not continue without authorization from Congress. The administration has since asked the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that the project is also a national-security facility containing shelters and anti-drone defenses.

The project has also drawn complaints from architects and preservationists over the demolition of the East Wing and the absence of the usual public planning process. The American Institute of Architects said site preparation began before plans were submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission and called for greater transparency before further irreversible changes were made.

White House Rose Garden Patio

Trump also ordered the central lawn of the White House Rose Garden to be removed and replaced with a limestone patio, creating an outdoor entertaining area that he has since dubbed the “Rose Garden Club.”

The flower beds and roses around the perimeter were retained, but the grass that historically occupied the center of the garden was replaced with paving, tables, umbrellas, lighting and a speaker system.

Construction began on June 9, 2025, with the White House initially saying the work would take around two months and be completed during the first half of August.

The project ultimately cost around $2 million and was paid for through private donations to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. The renovated space was in use by September 2025, when Trump hosted about 100 lawmakers for its first major dinner.

“We have worked very hard to bring it to fruition,” Trump said at that event, adding that the grass had been “not usable” and predicting the patio would be enjoyed for “many, many years to come.”

The changes did not become the subject of the type of major federal court battle that has surrounded the ballroom renovation. However, it prompted criticism from historians, landscape specialists and others concerned about changes to one of the White House’s best-known historic spaces.

Critics also noted that its new tables and striped umbrellas closely resembled the outdoor entertaining areas at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

The Rose Garden itself dates to 1913, although it has undergone repeated redesigns under previous administrations, including a substantial restoration led by First Lady Melania Trump in 2020.

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Trump personally pushed for a rapid overhaul of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in spring 2026 after complaining about its appearance. The project involved repairing leaking joints and resurfacing the bottom of the pool with a dark coating Trump described as “American Flag Blue,” alongside upgrades intended to improve water quality and limit algae.

Work began in April 2026. Trump initially suggested it could be completed in a matter of weeks for roughly $1.5 million to $2 million.

“You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool,” he said while discussing the project in April.

The renovation was largely completed in early June but ended up costing about $14.7 million. But problems appeared almost immediately: algae turned sections of the water green and portions of the newly applied blue coating began peeling away.

Trump initially blamed vandals, but Justice Department filings later attributed significant portions of the damage to flaws in the installation. The president subsequently acknowledged that the contractor had made some errors while rushing to meet the July 4 deadline.

The project also faced a legal challenge from the Cultural Landscape Foundation, which argued that dramatically changing the pool’s color without the normal historic-preservation process would damage the character of the Lincoln Memorial landscape.

The dispute became more contentious after people were arrested for allegedly damaging the new coating. Prosecutors later dropped several cases after evidence emerged that installation problems had contributed to the peeling, which led to a dispute between Trump and D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

Kennedy Center

Trump has also backed a sweeping renovation of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after taking control of its board and installing himself as chairman.

Plans cover both structural repairs and substantial cosmetic upgrades, including work on the exterior, grand foyer, concert hall, and opera house, as well as elevators, plumbing, cooling systems and other aging infrastructure.

Congress approved approximately $257 million in taxpayer funding for Kennedy Center repairs through Trump’s 2025 tax and spending legislation.

Renovation documents show $78 million allocated for safety and building systems and $48.5 million for performance-space improvements, while officials have also sought private donations for some lounges and hospitality spaces.

Trump originally announced that the center would close on July 4, 2026, with construction beginning immediately and reopening roughly two years later. He called the building “tired, broken, and dilapidated” and said a full closure would turn it into a “World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment.”

But that schedule was disrupted after a federal judge blocked the original closure plan, finding problems with how the board had reached its decision. On August 13, however, the board voted again to pursue a two-year shutdown. The plan remains subject to continuing court proceedings, so definitive construction start and reopening dates are not yet settled.

The renovation is also intertwined with a separate fight over Trump’s attempt to put his name on the Kennedy Center. A judge ruled in May that only Congress could rename the building.

The board has since proposed adding the words “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” to the facade, prompting Ohio Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty to seek another court order blocking the move.

East Potomac Golf Links

Trump wants to overhaul the century-old East Potomac Golf Links, a public course on Hains Point, into a championship-level course capable of hosting major tournaments.

After touring the site in June with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and golf architect Tom Fazio, Trump said it could become “one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World” and potentially host events including the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

Trump said work would begin on September 1, 2026 and “go quickly,” although no firm completion date or final cost has been released. The administration has said private contributions will support the redevelopment, but lawmakers have sought clarification over whether taxpayer money will also be used.

The project faces an ongoing lawsuit from the D.C. Preservation League and two local residents, who argue the redevelopment could violate federal environmental and historic preservation laws as well as threaten public access to the park. A federal judge has sought assurances that construction will not begin before the legal and regulatory process is completed.

White House Visitor Screening Center

Trump’s administration is planning a permanent White House visitor screening center beneath Sherman Park, southeast of the White House. The roughly 33,000-square-foot underground facility would replace temporary Secret Service tents and trailers, with new screening lanes, an entrance plaza and an exit building.

The administration has sought about $180 million for the project as part of a broader White House security package. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump had “took it upon himself to modernize the experience for visitors touring the People’s House from beginning to end.”

Construction has been targeted to begin in 2026, with the facility expected to become operational in 2028. The project has drawn preservation concerns, with the National Park Service finding it would have an “adverse effect” on the historic landscape.

National Garden of American Heroes

Trump’s planned National Garden of American Heroes would place statues of around 250 prominent Americans in West Potomac Park, near the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Trump announced the Washington location in May 2026, calling the proposed development a “World Class Masterpiece.”

Congress has appropriated $40 million for the project, while federal arts and humanities agencies have committed additional money toward producing statues. Private fundraising is also expected.

Trump originally wanted the garden completed by July 4, 2026, but that deadline was dropped. The administration now hopes to finish it before Trump finishes his second term in January 2029.

Construction has not yet begun, and preservation groups have sued, arguing the administration needs congressional authorization to build such a large commemorative project on protected National Mall parkland.

Triumphal Arch

Trump is also pushing to build a 250-foot triumphal arch, colloquially nicknamed the “Arc de Trump”, at Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The monument would include a massive central arch topped by a gilded winged figure, along with eagles, lions and patriotic inscriptions. The National Capital Planning Commission said it is intended to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.

Trump said it would be “the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World” and that it “will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!”

There is no final cost estimate, although officials have discussed a combination of private and taxpayer funding. Preliminary surveying began in May 2026, but full construction has not started. Planning documents suggest building could take two to three years.

The project is also facing a federal lawsuit arguing that congressional approval is required under the Commemorative Works Act.

White House Helipad

The latest addition to Trump’s roster of renovations is a permanent granite helipad on the White House South Lawn, first announced in July. The pad will feature a large carved presidential seal and could also be used as a space for state arrivals and events.

Trump has said Sikorsky, the manufacturer of the Marine One fleet that carries the president, would pay for the latest installation. Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky’s parent company, has confirmed that its contribution was “made to the National Park Service.”

“They are paying for the cost of it. It’s about $5 or $6 million. They’re paying the full cost,” Trump said.

This week the president took reporters on a tour of the site, which will replace the White House’s traditional grass helicopter landing area.

“This is a helipad at the highest level. It can land any helicopter in the world, no matter how big, no matter how powerful, no matter how strong,” he said.

Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.