More from the article ...

... Shalom Baranes, the architect who took over the project late last year, told a meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington that the ballroom will be approximately 22,000 square feet and designed to accommodate 1,000 seated guests. Trump at one point had floated having a ballroom that could fit some 1,300 people, but Baranes said the president's team was not exploring an option to increase the project's size.

The total area of the new East Wing, including two floors and the ballroom, would be slightly more than 89,000 square feet, he said. It will include a two-story colonnade that connects the White House's East Room to the new ballroom.

Baranes said the administration was also considering a one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade "to restore a sense of symmetry" to the overall White House complex.

Last year Trump was seen walking on the roof of the press room, which is part of the West Wing and would likely be affected by such an addition. ...

... President Donald Trump's aides began to make their case on Thursday for a $400 million White House ballroom before a commission that oversees federal building construction ...

That should have been done before the demolition took place.

@#2 ... before a commission ...

It is notable that the head of tha commission, The National Capital Planning Commission, is none other than ... Will Scharf, who serves as Trump's White House staff secretary.

So, bending to the dicta of Pres Trump, otherwise he loses his job?