How Much Have Major White House Renovations Cost?

The White House is undergoing major construction once again, with plans to build a new ballroom where the East Wing once stood, funded by private donations estimated between $200 million and $400 million.

This marks the latest chapter in a long history of White House renovations, dating back to 1948 when President Truman discovered the 150-year-old executive residence was literally on the verge of collapse.

Inspectors found the building standing “from force of habit only,” leading to a gut renovation of the interior while preserving the historic exterior, funded by $5.4 million from Congress (about $72 million today).

Since then, major projects have included a 2008 renovation of the East and West Wings costing $561 million in federal funds, a $5.3 million Situation Room upgrade in 2006, and smaller privately funded additions like a swimming pool in 1933 and a bowling alley in 1973.

The new ballroom’s estimated cost and private funding model have raised questions among officials and the public about how White House renovations compare to past projects.