The Trump administration has proposed the construction of an underground facility to screen visitors to the White House. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is scheduled to consider plans for the approximately 33,000-square-foot visitor screening facility that would be built entirely on federal land in Sherman Park, located southeast of the White House.

The NCPC, responsible for approving construction projects on federal land in the Washington, D.C., region, has listed the plans on the agenda for its April 2 meeting. These plans were developed by the Executive Office of the President in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service, the Interior Department, and the National Park Service.

Construction of the new facility could begin as early as this fall, with completion expected by July 2028. The facility would allow visitors to queue in multiple entry lanes for an initial ID check before proceeding to a new lobby and another security checkpoint. Designed to accommodate large groups, the proposed screening area aims to improve the visitor experience significantly.

Currently, visitors to the White House line up in nearby parks before entering security checkpoints housed in trailers and tents. Due to the construction of the White House’s new East Wing ballroom, visitors are now gathering at an alternate location in Lafayette Park.

The NCPC’s plans do not provide an estimated cost for the project or specify where funding would come from. White House spokesman Davis Ingle told CBS News, “For far too long, visitors to the White House have had a reduced experience where they were required to begin their tours by entering temporary, double-wide trailers and tents outside, often in uncomfortable weather conditions. This President took it upon himself to modernize the experience for visitors touring the People’s House from beginning to end. President Trump is committed to giving all visitors to the White House the best experience possible. The new Visitor Center will be state of the art in design and highlight the beautiful history of the White House and our Nation’s Capital.”

The NCPC is working to mitigate the facility’s impact on historic sites. According to the plans, the existing statue of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in Sherman Park would remain in place. However, there are plans for landscape restoration aimed at enhancing the park’s character.

At least six trees will be removed as part of the construction but will be replaced with suitable native species and landscaping. The plans also prioritize maintaining public access to the park and ensuring the new structures do not detract from the surrounding buildings and monuments, taking into account visitor use and the area’s aesthetic appeal.

This underground screening facility is expected to modernize and streamline the visitor experience while preserving the historic and cultural significance of Sherman Park and its surroundings.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-proposes-new-underground-visitor-screening-facility/