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WASHINGTON 鈥� Construction workers on Monday started tearing down part of the White House’s East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump’s $250 million ballroom despite lacking approval from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing fa莽ade and windows. Some reporters watched the activity from a park near the Treasury Department, which is next to the East Wing.

Trump announced the start of construction in a social media post and referenced the work while hosting 2025 college baseball champs Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room. He noted the work was happening 鈥渞ight behind us.鈥�

鈥淲e have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t just started today.鈥�

The聽Trump administration has moved ahead with the massive project聽despite not yet receiving sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area.

Its chairman, Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary and one of Trump’s top aides, said at the commission’s September meeting that the agency does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property.

鈥淲hat we deal with is essentially construction 鈥� vertical build,鈥� Scharf said last month.

It was unclear whether White House staff had submitted the ballroom plans for the agency’s review and approval. White House staff did not respond to a request for comment and the commission’s offices are closed because of the government shutdown.

The Republican president had said in July when the project was announced that the ballroom would not interfere with the mansion itself.

鈥淚t’ll be near it but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,鈥� he said of the White House.

The East Wing houses several offices, including those of the first lady. It was built in 1902 and then renovated over the years; a second story was added in 1942, according to White House staff.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the affected East Wing offices will be temporarily relocated during construction and that building wing will be modernized and renovated.

Trump insists that presidents have desired such a ballroom for 150 years and that he’s adding the massive 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled space because the East Room, which is the White House’s largest room with an approximately 200-person capacity, is too small. He also has said he does not like the idea of hosting kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers in pavilions on the South Lawn.

Trump, in the social media announcement, stated that the project would be completed 鈥渨ith zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.鈥�

The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.

At a dinner Trump hosted last week for some of the wealthy business executives who are donating money to cover some of the $250 million cost, Trump said the project had grown in size and now will accommodate 999 people. In July, the announcement indicated capacity would be 650 seated people.

White House staff said they will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom but have yet to do so.

Trump also said at last week’s event that the head of Carrier Global Corp., a leading manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, had offered to donate the air conditioning system for the ballroom.

Carrier confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that it had done so. A cost estimate was not immediately available.

鈥淐arrier is honored to provide the new iconic ballroom at the White House with a world-class, energy-efficient HVAC system, bringing comfort to distinguished guests and dignitaries in this historic setting for years to come,鈥� the company stated via email.

The clearing of trees on the south grounds and other site work for the construction started in September. Plans call for the ballroom to be ready before Trump’s term ends in January 2029.