Secret Bunker Under White House Revealed
Three former officials have disclosed that a highly protected nuclear bunker already exists deep beneath the White House, built over a decade ago during the Obama administration. The facility, buried more than 60 feet below the complex, can shelter the president and top aides for multiple weeks, according to the Washington Post, which spoke with the officials on condition of anonymity to protect unreported details.
The officials said the bunker is constructed to withstand a nuclear blast and serves as a modern military facility. Previously, the only known bunker was the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), built in 1942 in the basement of the East Wing. The existence of the new bunker was mentioned in Ronald Kessler's 2018 book "The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game."
Supreme Court Allows Construction to Continue
President Donald Trump, 80, scored a Supreme Court victory last week when Chief Justice John Roberts issued an order allowing construction on the White House ballroom project to continue while the high court weighs a case that could halt it entirely. The project, part of the East Wing Modernization Project, involves a 90,000-square-foot ballroom and is currently 65% complete, with 250 workers on 20-hour shifts.
Trump has shifted his language as the case has moved through the courts, focusing more on national security than the ballroom itself. Last Wednesday, during a tour of the construction, he told reporters the project will include a "bomb shelter" and a "Drone port" on the roof, and on social media he has called it a "military complex."
"Before we started work, the military came to see me, and they said, 'Sir, we have an opportunity to do something incredible here, and we've been trying to do it for 100 years, but we've never had an opportunity like that.' I said, 'Look, go ahead, design what you want,'" Trump said.
After the Supreme Court ruling was announced, Trump posted on Truth Social that the construction of the ballroom is "so vital for National Security."
Former Officials Say Argument Undermined
The former officials argue the existence of the already-built nuclear bunker undermines the administration's legal argument that the ballroom is needed for national security. The revelation suggests that adequate protective facilities already exist, casting doubt on the necessity of the new project for security purposes.
The total cost of the project has been disputed, with estimates ranging from $400 million to $600 million. The project is being built with material used in nuclear power plants, according to some reports.
The administration has defended the project as essential. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said it is "inextricably tied" to presidential security. Trump's lawyers have argued that the ballroom is "virtually impossible to deconstruct," a point that may be central to the ongoing legal battle.
Broader Security Context
The disclosure comes amid a series of security-related incidents that have been cited in support of the project. Reports have mentioned a foiled attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House and an Iranian plot to target Air Force One in July. These incidents, though not detailed in the current coverage, have been part of the administration's broader security narrative.