The White House has suspended all public tours starting 1 September as it prepares to break ground on a 90,000-square-foot ballroom championed by President Donald Trump, notices from congressional offices and a White House official confirm. Lawmakers have been told to pause new tour requests indefinitely, affecting thousands of visitors and school groups that normally file months in advance for access to the executive mansion. Dubbed the New State Ballroom, the addition is budgeted at roughly $200 million, which the administration says will be covered by Trump and private donors. Designed to seat about 650 guests—more than triple the capacity of the East Room—the facility will rise next to the East Wing. Construction is slated to run from September through early 2029, extending across most of Trump’s current term. The White House, U.S. Secret Service and National Park Service are exploring ways to restore limited public access during the multi-year build, but no timeline has been offered. Critics, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, say the closure deprives families and students of a longstanding civics tradition, while officials argue the ballroom will allow future presidents to host major state events without using temporary structures on the South Lawn.