White House Helipad Reconstruction: Trump's Demands and Lockheed Martin's Funding
President Trump has requested contractors to redo the construction of a new helipad at the White House due to his dissatisfaction with its appearance and concerns about the lawn's slope. The project, funded by Lockheed Martin, aims to prevent damage to the lawn caused by Marine One's exhaust. Trump wants the helipad completed before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in late September.
The construction work on the helipad, which began in June, has faced setbacks as Trump questions the slope of the White House lawn and desires a landing pad that is level with the horizon. Contractors have been working tirelessly to meet Trump's deadline for completion, disassembling their work to consider potential changes to the lawn itself.
Photographs reveal the dismantling of the construction, including a granite presidential seal that was in progress. The project, costing over $5 million, is being covered by Lockheed Martin, the company that manufactures the helicopters. The construction firm, Clark Construction, has deferred questions to the White House, which has not commented on the specific alterations requested by the president.
The White House has acknowledged the need for a proper helipad to ensure the president's safe landing and protect the South Lawn from exhaust fumes. The new helipad, located near the South Portico, aims to address the issue of grass damage caused by the heat vents of the new Marine One helicopters. The project is a response to the risk of lawn burning posed by the VH-92A Patriot helicopters manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin.
Despite the ongoing construction, Trump has been using the Ellipse as a temporary landing zone for Marine One. The helipad project is a priority for the administration, with efforts focused on completing it before the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The changes requested by Trump have led to additional work for the contractors, with the final cost and timeline of the project yet to be determined.