U.S. President Donald Trump previously cited "national security" and "insufficient activity space" as two reasons for the October 2025 decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House and build a new banquet hall. However, according to a court declaration submitted by Joshua Fisher, Director of the White House Office of Administration, there is a third reason: the building, constructed during World War II, has structural safety hazards, with roof and foundation leaks causing mold growth, and its mechanical and electrical systems are severely outdated.

In court documents submitted to Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Fisher stated: "Structural upgrades are needed for the aging East Wing colonnade roof to address its structural instability, while the existing foundation and support structures are also inadequate."

Judge Leon ruled in March to temporarily halt construction on the project. Two weeks later, the appellate court stayed the injunction, allowing work to proceed while reviewing issues such as the banquet hall's size, scope, and stakeholder opinions.

In his declaration, Fisher stated that as the White House official in charge of the project, he consulted the U.S. Secret Service, the National Park Service, and other government agencies regarding facility upgrades, banquet hall construction, and additional security measures. He said: "Each stakeholder pointed out various issues with the Executive Residence and the East Wing that they had observed during their years of service at the White House."

According to the East Wing history published on the White House website, the East Wing was built in 1902 and originally served as the formal entrance for visitors. During a major renovation in 1942, an underground bunker called the "President's Emergency Operations Center" was constructed beneath it.

Fisher cited a report issued in 2000 during Bill Clinton's presidency, which noted the need to expand event space on the White House grounds. He said: "Successive administrations have treated this need as an ongoing priority. The President directed me to initiate a project to achieve this goal as well as other long-term objectives of concern to him and multiple entities within the U.S. government."

Fisher stated that the building has fallen into disrepair since its World War II-era renovation. Specific issues include: the colonnade roof has exceeded its service life and is leaking; leaks in the substructure have caused gradual deterioration and corrosion of structural components, along with mold and other toxic contamination; the electrical infrastructure is outdated, under-capacity, at risk of operational failure, non-compliant with codes, and poses a fire hazard; and the steam and mechanical systems are old, inefficient, and unreliable. Additionally, the facility violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and life safety requirements, and contains asbestos and lead paint hazards.

Given the scale of the required work, Fisher believes demolition and reconstruction is the best option. He said: "According to cost analysis, demolishing the existing East Wing structure and rebuilding a new East Wing offers the lowest total cost of ownership and most effectively achieves long-term risk reduction."

Trump said the project is expected to be completed by 2028. In a May 30 interview with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump on Fox News, he said: "Interestingly, from a usage perspective, other presidents will use it for 200 years, while I will only get to use it for about six months."