Trump Administration Plans Underground Security Center Near White House

The Trump administration is looking to construct a sizable security screening center underground, located close to the White House.

Designs for the 33,000-square-foot facility planned below Sherman Park, situated just south of the Treasury Building, were revealed on the preliminary agenda for the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) meeting scheduled for April 2.

Visitors will access the center through a ramp at the junction of 15th and E Streets, entering a 5,000-square-foot entrance plaza designed to divert foot traffic away from neighboring sidewalks. The center will have seven processing lanes intended to replace the temporary trailers and tents run by the Secret Service since 2005.

This project kicked off after President Trump ordered the demolition of the east wing last fall to create space for a banquet hall. Sherman Park has traditionally been a spot where tourists wait for security checks before entering the White House, with current lines forming near Lafayette Park on the opposite side of Pennsylvania Avenue.

As reported, construction could potentially start as soon as August, aiming for the center to open in July 2028, about six months before President Trump’s term ends. Collaborative efforts are in place among the Office of the President, the Secret Service, and the National Park Service.

Additionally, a second building of roughly 4,000 square feet along East Executive Avenue will function as an entry point for eligible staff and contractors, as well as an exit pathway for guests leaving the premises.

During the same April 2 meeting, the NCPC is set to discuss and finalize a vote on the administration’s plan for a 90,000-square-foot banquet hall at the location of the former east wing. Notably, the statue of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman situated in the park is expected to remain unchanged.