In the new White House situation room
The White House Situation Room: A $50 Million Facelift
The White House Situation Room, a space of great mystique and even greater secrecy, has just undergone a remarkable transformation. This highly secure complex, located on the ground floor of the West Wing, is far more than just a “room.” Spanning 5,500 square feet, it consists of conference rooms and offices where history is made, where presidents meet with national security officials, engage in discussions about secret operations and sensitive government matters, hold conversations with foreign leaders, and situation room“>navigate major national security crises
.It was in this very space that President Barack Obama and his team watched the raid that led to the demise of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011. President Donald Trump monitored the 2019 operation that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi from here. And it was in these rooms that President Lyndon Johnson meticulously reviewed Vietnam War plans.
The recent renovation of the White House Situation Room was no small feat. It took an entire year to complete the total gut renovation. This week, the White House opened the classified space to a group of reporters for a rare visit to witness the stunning new look. President Joe Biden himself toured the space on Tuesday and received an intelligence briefing there, expressing his admiration for the update.
“Folks, the newly renovated White House Situation Room is up and running,”
Biden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “My thanks to everyone who worked on this incredible facility.”
The renovated space exudes a modern-yet-vintage vibe. The old floors, furniture, computers, and other outdated technology have been replaced with pristine mahogany paneling from Maryland, stonework from a Virginia quarry, LED lights that can change colors, and sleek flat-screen panels. Glass offices can be made opaque with the press of a button, adding an element of privacy. The entire space has that unmistakable new car smell.
However, despite the modern upgrades, landline phones still dominate the secure space due to security reasons. Cellphones are strictly prohibited. Cubbies are provided near the exit for individuals to store their phones. Interestingly, earlier this year, a baggie containing cocaine was discovered in one of these cubbies.
Access to the White House Situation Room is tightly controlled and limited to the president’s national security and military advisers. Only those with proper clearance are allowed to listen in on classified briefings. Even the contractors involved in the renovation had to obtain temporary security clearances. Illuminated signs flash green for declassified information and red for classified.
The creation of this hush-hush complex dates back to 1961 when the Kennedy administration established it after the Bay of Pigs invasion. President John F. Kennedy recognized the need for a dedicated crisis management center where officials could swiftly and effectively coordinate intelligence.
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the White House underwent a significant update to the Situation Room, along with broader enhancements to presidential communications on Air Force One and the presidential helicopter. The complex was used for secure video conferences before such technology became more portable. The most recent renovation prior to this one occurred in 2007.
The White House Situation Room is staffed around the clock by military and civilian personnel who monitor global developments in real-time. The complex features a reception area adorned with a U.S. seal in stonework. The main conference room, known as the “JFK room,” is located behind it. Adjacent to the reception area are a smaller conference room and two soundproof “breakout rooms.” On the other side is the “watch floor,” a 24/7 operations center.
According to Marc Gustafson, the Situation Room director, the new space seamlessly blends traditional and modern elements. Workers dug five feet underground to create more room and install cutting-edge technology that allows White House officials to consolidate intelligence from various agencies with just a few clicks.
“Now we have all the capabilities,”
Gustafson said.
Interestingly, the term “sit room” is no longer used among insiders. Instead, they refer to it as the ”whizzer,” derived from the complex’s acronym: WHSR. Washington certainly loves its acronyms.
Gustafson emphasized that the goal is to avoid the need for another complete renovation in the future. The new space was designed to allow for the removal and updating of panels and the seamless integration of new technology, all while minimizing space requirements. A room that was once occupied by computer servers has been repurposed into a smaller conference room.
The JFK room is furnished with a long wooden table surrounded by leather chairs, with a larger chair at the head for the president. Leather armchairs line the walls, and a state-of-the-art screen spans the length of the back wall. The presidential end of the room features an impressive 2-foot seal, larger than the previous one.
While there aren’t many photographs of the Situation Room, one of the most iconic images is that of Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Biden, and others watching the bin Laden operation. This took place in a smaller conference room adjacent to the JFK room, which no longer exists. It has been removed from the space and sent to Obama’s presidential library. In its place, two smaller rooms have been created.
Another historical artifact preserved is an old phone booth that once stood in the complex. It has been placed in storage for eventual display in Biden’s presidential library. Gustafson is unsure if anything similar has been sent to Trump.
Gustafson revealed that staff members must always be prepared to set up rooms for classified briefings at a moment’s notice. Biden has been known to drop in on meetings unexpectedly, particularly during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the area was closed for renovation, White House officials utilized other secure locations on the campus. Currently, about 60% of the staff have returned to the renovated Situation Room, with more returning each day.
One notable cosmetic upgrade is the ability to swap out different 2-foot-diameter seals that hang on the wall of the JFK room, depending on the attendees. Seals for the president, vice president, and executive staff are kept in a nearby closet and can be quickly exchanged.
“This looks like the movies,”
Gustafson proudly declared, reflecting visitors’ reactions to the revamped space.
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