Federal panel approves design for underground White House visitor screening center
The National Capital Planning Commission advanced the project, which the Trump administration says will replace temporary tents and improve security.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A federal panel has given final approval to the design and building plans for an underground facility that will screen visitors to the White House, the administration says will be ready by July 2028.
What happened
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) voted on Thursday to move forward with the permanent screening center, approving the final architectural and engineering drawings. The underground structure will replace a series of temporary tents and makeshift barriers that have been used for years. The administration aims to have the facility operational six months before the end of President Donald Trump’s second term.
What the reports add
Reuters reported that the approval came from a federal panel reviewing the project’s design, while the Independent noted that the NCPC specifically advanced the proposal on Thursday. Both outlets describe the facility as a collaboration among the Executive Office of the President, the U.S. Secret Service and the National Park Service, which manages the White House grounds. The Independent adds that the administration views the new center as an improvement over “temporary structures long used for security, such as tents and bicycle racks fashioned into barriers.”
What was said
The Independent quoted the administration’s statement that the permanent facility will “improve security on the White House complex and enhance the experience for visitors.” No individual spokesperson was named in either source.
How it came about
The project follows a series of security‑related actions by the Trump administration, including heightened concerns after multiple assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign. Earlier this month, Felo News reported on the president’s ban on several news outlets from the White House and the subsequent court ruling restoring their access (trump-white-house-media-ban). Those events underscored the administration’s focus on controlling the White House environment, a context that frames the new screening center’s development.
Key facts
- The National Capital Planning Commission approved the final design for an underground White House visitor screening center. (independent.co.uk)
- The administration plans to open the facility by July 2028, six months before the end of President Trump's second term. (independent.co.uk)
- The project involves the Executive Office of the President, the U.S. Secret Service and the National Park Service. (independent.co.uk)
