Oct 23, 2025 11:47 AM

White House Staffers Couldn’t Care Less About the East Wing Demolition

“Not affecting me at all, to be honest,” a White House aide tells WIRED.

The facade of the East Wing of the White House is demolished by work crews on October 20, 2025, as part of President Trump’s plan to build a ballroom reportedly costing $250 million.Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

White House staffers don’t appear to care all that much about the ongoing demolition of the East Wing occurring in the middle of the government shutdown.

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Jake Lahut is a former senior writer for WIRED, covering the Trump White House and forces shaping policy in the Republican Party. He has covered elections for The Daily Beast, Business Insider, and The Keene Sentinel in New Hampshire. ... Read More

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