Trump proposes massive '33,000 square feet' visitor screening center to DC

A new report reveals President Donald Trump is proposing a 33,000 square foot building for screening visitors beneath the adjacent Sherman Park.

“The White House wants to construct a 33,000-square-foot building beneath nearby Sherman Park to screen visitors entering the grounds for tours and events, according to plans published by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC).

“The plans, submitted April 2 [by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)], would have visitors access the security facility via a ramp at the southeast corner of 15th Street and E Street, near the Treasury Department,” wrote The Hill’s Sophie Brams on Friday. “Officials noted that guests would first enter a 5,000-square-foot sunken plaza, intended to reduce congestion on the adjacent sidewalk.”

Brams added, “The White House noted that the building, which will have seven screening lanes, will replace the temporary trailers and tents used by the U.S. Secret Service since 2005.” The building appears to be scheduled to open in July 2028, approximately the same time when the new East Wing ballroom is scheduled to be opened.

While there has yet to be any large amount of public feedback to the new visitors screening center, the destruction of the historic East Wing (which was done to begin construction on the ballroom) remains highly unpopular. Among the over 9,000 pages of public comments the remarks included "complete disaster,” "no gaudy fake gold stuff all over the place," an “eyesore,” an “abomination” and “appalling.”

"Constructing a ballroom is possible," Alison Hoagland, a D.C. preservationist, argued, adding that for this to happen "it should be deferential to the White House, not overwhelming."

Even Republicans have spoken out against Trump’s destruction of the East Wing. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) said that “the stark images of the East Wing demolished in mere days were deeply disturbing to Americans who cherish preservation of our nation's history.” Former Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois cited Trump supporters’ backing of his destruction of the East Wing as proof they are in a “cult.” U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, said the White House made an “end run” around the public by soliciting private donations.

In February the New York Times reported that Trump had dumped rubble from the destroyed East Wing into the East Potomac public golf course. The New York Times described former golfers there describing it as a “real loss for a lot of people.”

“It’ll be a real loss for a lot of people in the city,” Bryan King, a 68-year-old Virginia mural painter, said. Another golfer said “there’s plenty of very expensive country clubs in this area already. This has always been kind of, like, the people’s course.” Despite this Trump’s “trucks drove onto the golf course and, somewhere between the fourth and ninth holes, began dumping mounds and mounds of [mud]. Tiny bits of rebar, wiring and specks of white plaster poked out from the piles," according to the Times.

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