The White House will suspend all public tours beginning 1 September to allow construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom requested by President Donald Trump, officials said. Congressional offices that handle tour requests have been told the hiatus is indefinite, and visitors with reservations are receiving cancellation notices. The new event space, expected to cost about $200 million, will be built on the East Wing side of the complex between the Executive Residence and the Treasury Department. Plans call for seating for roughly 650 guests, far exceeding the capacity of the current East Room. The administration says the project will be financed by President Trump and other private donors, not taxpayer funds. The White House has not provided a timeline for when tours might resume. Lawmakers from both parties have posted notices about the pause, and some, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, have questioned closing the historic residence to school groups and families during peak tourist season. Until tours restart, offices are directing constituents to alternative attractions such as the White House Historical Association’s exhibit across Pennsylvania Avenue.