White House North Portico Covered with Tarps During Column Repairs

Construction crews draped tarps printed with images of the North Portico columns over scaffolding outside the White House on Thursday during repairs to its stone columns. A White House official stated that covering the front of the White House has always been part of the restoration process. The same official told CNN that the work is standard restoration to repair stones in the columns.

Construction crews began work on a previously unannounced helipad on the South Lawn last week. Contractor records show an additional $875,000 was added to the helipad project’s $13 million budget ahead of an upcoming state visit. Trump started demolition of the East Wing for a new ballroom project expected to cost $600 million, more than half of which would come from taxpayer funds.

Tarps have covered the Kennedy Center sign for nearly a month after a court ordered removal of Trump’s name from the venue. A federal judge last month directed the Kennedy Center to explain the tarps by the end of July. The Kennedy Center is appealing a May court ruling that blocked efforts to add Trump’s name and close the venue for renovations.

An estimate by the New York Times put the total cost of 18 major construction projects launched across Washington at $1.2 billion. A White House official indicated most funding for the 18 projects would come from taxpayers. Trump launched an effort to remodel major Washington landmarks in his second term, including a restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that refilled with algae and led to criminal charges for alleged vandalism.

Trump has remodeled the Rose Garden and several interior rooms. Trump started a $17 million renovation of Lafayette Park. Trump has proposed a 250-foot arch in Washington, but Democratic lawmakers say the project requires congressional approval.