The ballroom project has faced stiff opposition from historic preservation groups and sections of the public.

"No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever - not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else," the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in its federal lawsuit.

"And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in." The case is still in litigation.

The commission's Secretary Thomas Luebke said the panel had received over 2,000 comments from the public and that they were "overwhelmingly in opposition - over 99% to this project".

Commission Vice Chairman James McCrery abstained from discussions and the vote at Thursday's meeting. His architecture firm was initially selected by Trump to handle the ballroom, but the administration switched architects on the project to Shalom Baranes.

Two new Trump-appointed members of the commission were sworn in at the start of the meeting, including Chamberlain Harris, a White House aide.