From PBS NewsHour.

President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom proposal has been approved by a panel whose members were handpicked by the president himself.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts said the massive ballroom will increase hosting capacity for state dinners and other large events, which have traditionally been held in outdoor tents.

Another body, the National Capital Planning Commission, will pick up the matter next month.

In October, crews hastily demolished the entire East Wing to make way for the ballroom. A federal court case seeking to halt construction is still pending.

Also on Thursday, workers installed a large banner featuring the president’s face at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. The DOJ has a tradition of independence, and its presence highlights Trump’s growing influence over the department.

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