White House officials have said it was more economical to demolish the East Wing for President Donald Trump's new ballroom than to renovate it, citing structural issues.
Josh Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, told a planning commission that the wing had "significant deficiencies and overall poor structural design and construction".
The East Wing was demolished in October to make way for President Donald Trump's multi-million dollar ballroom, which he says is being paid for by private donors.
The ballroom is now projected to cost $400m (£298m), which is twice the original estimate.
White House officials told members of the National Capital Planning Commission (NPCC) on Thursday that the East Wing had "chronic water intrusion, accelerated deterioration and mould contamination".
