Tamara Keith
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Tours have traditionally started in the east wing of the White House, but were put on hold starting in September.
But it turns out the East Wing was being prepared for demolition.
That demolition now complete, the office of First Lady Melania Trump announced tours will resume on December 2nd, quote, with an updated route offering guests the opportunity to experience the history and beauty of the people's house.
The resumption of tours comes just in time for the holiday season when the White House gets all decked out and photo ready for visitors.
Tours have traditionally started in the East Wing of the White House, but were put on hold starting in September.
It wasn't clear at the time, but it turns out the East Wing was being prepared for demolition.
That demolition now complete, the office of First Lady Melania Trump announced tours will resume on December 2nd, quote, "...with an updated route, offering guests the opportunity to experience the history and beauty of the People's House."
The resumption of tours comes just in time for the holiday season, when the White House gets all decked out and photo-ready for visitors.
Over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker.
In a letter, the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States urged the Trump administration to pause the demolition until plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, far bigger than the main house, can go through a review process.
The White House says the offices and other East Wing features, including the secure Underground Presidential Emergency Operations Center, will be modernized and enhanced as part of the ballroom project.
The East Wing was built during World War II and has been modified over the years.
Until recently, it housed the offices of the First Lady's staff.
Explaining that it needed to be torn down, President Trump downplayed its significance.
Trump said it didn't make sense to save the East Wing at the expense of the massive new ballroom he has planned.
Images of excavators tearing into a wing of the White House have set off alarms for groups concerned with historic preservation.