US President Donald Trump plans to knock down the entire "existing structure" of the White House East Wing to construct a new ballroom - despite previous assurances that the addition would "not interfere with the current building".
The sight of demolitions has sparked an uproar from Democrats as well as conservation groups, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which wrote a letter calling on Trump to hold a public review process.
As a former property developer, Trump has extensive experience of navigating planning restrictions, and has occasionally found himself on a collision course with campaigners objecting to his plans.
Under a nearly-60-year-old law, the White House and several other notable buildings are exempt from a key historic preservation rule - though one expert told the BBC that presidents typically follow it anyway.
Trump's renovation appears to be the biggest in decades, but the president of the US does have the power to make those changes.
