The White House Could Get a Massive Underground Entrance

The White House is planning to build a large underground visitor security screening facility as part of a wider renovation project tied to President Donald Trump’s overhaul of the presidential campus.

According to plans submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the proposed facility would span about 33,000 square feet and include a seven-lane entrance where visitors and tour groups would pass through security before entering the White House grounds.

The complex would be located beneath a nearby park and is designed to improve security procedures and reduce long waiting lines for visitors.

Under the proposal, visitors would first arrive southeast of the White House to have their identification and tickets checked. They would then enter through a ramp leading to a sunken plaza intended to manage crowds and streamline the screening process.

The facility would be built on the site of the former East Wing visitor entrance, which was demolished last year as part of a broader redevelopment plan that also includes a proposed ballroom project.

Plans for an underground screening center at the White House have been discussed since the September 11, 2001 attacks, but earlier proposals were rejected due to funding concerns.

If approved, construction preparations could begin as early as August, with the new facility expected to open by July 2028.