White House Covers North Portico With Tarps During Column Repairs
Large tarps bearing images of the stone columns were installed over the White House's North Portico as repair work proceeds, part of a broader series of construction projects at the executive residence.
Construction crews placed oversized tarps over the North Portico of the White House on Thursday, printing images of the stone columns that are being repaired. The temporary covering is intended to protect the work area from weather while repairs continue. The repair effort is one of several construction projects currently underway at the White House and other federal sites. Recent work includes the addition of a helipad on the South Lawn, a project valued at about $13 million, and a planned ballroom renovation in the East Wing that is projected to cost roughly $600 million. Across Washington, D.C., tarps have also been used at the Kennedy Center to conceal signage while the venue undergoes renovations. A federal judge has ordered the center to explain the purpose of the coverings. According to a New York Times estimate, the combined cost of 18 major construction initiatives launched by the administration could reach $1.2 billion, with a White House official indicating that a substantial portion of the funding may come from taxpayer resources. Other ongoing projects include renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Rose Garden, and Lafayette Park, as well as a proposal for a new arch in the capital.