Reports that US President Donald Trump's administration is planning a major underground security complex beneath a proposed White House ballroom have sparked debate across the United States.
The project, estimated to cost $400 million (around Rs 3,852 crore), is said to include a hardened underground bunker, a military hospital and a drone base. Interest in the proposal grew after District Judge Richard Leon halted parts of the above-ground construction work on the planned ballroom complex on April 16, per a report by NDTV.
What is planned beneath the White House?
The proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom is expected to replace the demolished East Wing site and host events for up to 1,000 people, significantly expanding the White House's current entertainment capacity.
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According to reports, the project is being driven in part by security concerns. Trump has repeatedly highlighted the need for stronger protective measures and has pointed to the failed assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Association event in April as evidence of the risks faced by senior leaders.
The planned structure is expected to include extensive defensive features. Reports suggest it would have a hardened roof capable of withstanding a direct attack and titanium fencing so strong that "a bulldozer cannot knock it over". A six-storey underground complex could house a military hospital, research facilities and a rooftop drone base capable of supporting an unlimited number of drones.
The White House has not released further details regarding the reported research facilities.
The White House already has a secret bunker
The White House is already home to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), a secure underground facility built during World War II and later expanded during the early Cold War under President Harry Truman, reported NDTV.
The bunker was designed to protect the president and senior officials during an attack. According to the White House Historical Association, it contains thick concrete walls, steel-sheathed ceilings, communications equipment, food storage and living quarters.
The PEOC has been used during several major crises, including the September 11 attacks. Trump was also briefly taken to the facility during protests outside the White House in 2020.
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A long history of leadership bunkers
Underground shelters for national leaders are not unique to the United States. Britain's wartime leader Winston Churchill directed operations from the Churchill War Rooms in London, while Canada built the Diefenbunker during the Cold War.
Similar fortified underground facilities have also been associated with leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein and North Korea's ruling Kim family, reflecting the long-standing role of bunkers in protecting governments during war, crises and security threats.
FAQs:
Why is a new White House bunker being discussed?
Reports claim a proposed White House project could include a hardened underground security complex beneath a new ballroom.
Does the White House already have a bunker?
Yes, the White House has the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), which was built during World War II and later expanded.
