A highly fortified underground shelter—designed to withstand even a nuclear blast—lies directly beneath the White House complex, just below the Oval Office at a depth of 18 meters. According to The Washington Post, this classified facility was secretly constructed during Barack Obama’s presidency in the years following the September 11 attacks. It is capable of housing President Donald Trump and dozens of top U.S. officials for several weeks in the event of a national security emergency—or even a nuclear strike.
A Shelter Shrouded in Secrecy
Three former U.S. officials spoke to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity to reveal details about the bunker—some of which had never been publicly disclosed before. To protect sensitive White House security protocols, the newspaper deliberately omitted certain technical and operational specifics about the shelter’s design and construction.
Clash Over the New Ballroom
The existence of the bunker has taken on heightened significance amid a legal dispute surrounding Trump’s renovation project for the White House’s East Wing—the so-called ‘new ballroom.’ The U.S. government maintains that completing the renovation is essential for national security and ensuring continuity of government during a major crisis or attack.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingles stated that modernizing the East Wing is directly tied to safeguarding the president, the White House itself, and critical security infrastructure. Current officials argue the ballroom complex would deliver vital security upgrades to the presidential residence and help guarantee the federal government could continue operating during an emergency. They emphasized that the concrete, steel, and other materials used in both the ballroom and the underground shelter are selected specifically for national security reasons—including resistance to bombs, missiles, and even nuclear detonations.
Divided Views Among Officials
While current administration officials stress urgency and necessity, former officials have raised concerns about potential impacts on older subterranean structures during construction. Meanwhile, the government warns that halting the project could introduce new security vulnerabilities and jeopardize work already completed.
The renovation has been temporarily paused due to court rulings while judges consider whether congressional approval was legally required before construction began. However, restrictions do not apply to work deemed critical to national security—such as military installations or hardened underground facilities. Chief Justice John Roberts recently granted temporary permission for certain security-related aspects of the project to proceed.