Trump begins White House helipad project as work starts on South Lawn: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has begun construction on a new helipad at the White House, marking another major renovation to the historic grounds during his second term.
The project has not been officially announced. Nevertheless, construction crews were already at work Monday, and fencing has gone up around part of the South Lawn as the new helipad takes shape.
Trump launches new White House helipad project
According to the Washington Post report on Tuesday, June 30, the helipad is being built near the White House's South Portico, close to the area where Marine One traditionally lands on the lawn.
“The project is intended to address an operational issue involving newer Sikorsky presidential helicopters built by Lockheed Martin. Their exhaust vents have reportedly been burning the White House lawn, creating maintenance concerns,” the report said.
The report said Lockheed Martin is donating $5 million to help fund the construction of the new helipad.
The project has not yet been formally announced by the administration, even as construction has already begun and a large fence now blocks access to the work area.
White House changes continue under Trump
The helipad is the latest in a series of physical changes Trump has made to the White House grounds during his second term.
According to the report, previous administrations avoided building a permanent helipad because of concerns about preserving the historic character of the White House and maintaining the longstanding image of presidents boarding Marine One directly from the South Lawn.
Trump has taken a different approach, overseeing several high-profile renovation projects on the property.
The report noted that he ordered the demolition of the East Wing to make room for a large ballroom, replaced the Rose Garden with a stone patio, and hosted a UFC event on the South Lawn.
Unlike some of those earlier projects, the new helipad can be tied to an operational need involving the presidential helicopter fleet.
Permanent helipad adds another change at Whate House
While the report said the helipad serves a practical purpose, it also notes that details about its final appearance have not been made public because the project has remained under wraps.
The report argued that Trump has repeatedly shown he is willing to remake the White House grounds according to his preferences rather than follow longstanding traditions embraced by earlier administrations.
It also pointed to concept images of Trump's proposed "triumphal arch" as another example of the president's broader vision for redesigning parts of the White House complex, even as construction continues on the newly reported South Lawn helipad project.
