White House proposes building underground security screening center for tours, events

Fox5 ^ | March 14, 2026 | Joe Calabrese

[re_tail20]

The Brief

The White House has proposed building an underground security facility. The facility would be under nearby Sherman Park. The National Capital Planning Commission is having an open meeting at 1 p.m. on April 2 to discuss the project. WASHINGTON - The White House has proposed building an underground security checkpoint for visitors.

White House underground security checkpoint What we know: The National Capital Planning Commission shared plans and renderings of the facility on Friday. The center would be built underneath Sherman Park, southeast of the White House. Prior to President Donald Trump tearing down the White House's East Wing to make way for a $400 million ballroom, White House visitors funneled through Sherman Park to security checkpoints at temporary trailers.

According to the NCPC, the White House has been using the temporary trailers since 2005.

The proposed 33,000-square-foot facility would tunnel under the statue of Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, leading White House visitors in from E Street, before exiting via escalators behind the White House gates.

The park would reopen after construction on the center is complete. The Sherman statue is expected to stay where it is.

Timeline: The plan, if approved, ...

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TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: itsabunker; tour; whitehouse

[BenLurkin]

Don’t want to be in there if a bomb goes off.

[Jeff Chandler]

Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman — they named both a tank and a lawnmower after him.

[Regulator]

Gosh.

Before “Honest Abe” took over and turned the country into a slaughterhouse, citizens could stop by the White House and chat with the President if he was out and about.

Funny how the country now needs to be an armed camp. Almost as if the population is full of people who hate each other, and a government that is afraid of them...kinda like the Mullahs.

[Sacajaweau]

I thought Obama did something on the same line.

[al baby]

That was an underground bath house

[VAFreedom]

it’s the only way to enforce no gun zone.

a sign isn’t going to stop criminals. so people now needs to go to the venue 4 hours in advance so everyone can be screened.

sacrifice a little freedom for security always works

/s

[Iron Munro]

Funny how the country now needs to be an armed camp.
Almost as if the population is full of people who hate each other with a government that's afraid of them.

[cyclotic]

Currently there are two outdoor and one indoor screening areas. It’s worth any hassle to visit the White House for the tour. I can’t wait till they add the Ballroom to the tour.

[Iron Munro]

[Mean Daddy]

We have a West Wing tour later this week and it’ll be our fourth. It’s kind of unnerving as the check in point is on the street but having the SS around is very comforting.