President Donald Trump has ordered significant revisions to the construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House, citing dissatisfaction with its current appearance and concerns about the slope of the lawn. The project, which began in June and aims to be completed ahead of a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in late September, has already seen several weeks of work dismantled as contractors consider whether alterations to the lawn’s gradient are necessary.
The White House South Lawn, where the helipad is being installed, slopes downward roughly 20 degrees in some areas—exceeding federal safety recommendations for helipad gradients, which require a mostly flat but not perfectly horizontal surface to ensure effective water runoff and safe helicopter operations. Trump reportedly desires a landing pad that aligns level with the horizon, which has prompted contractors to pause and explore whether the lawn itself must be regraded to achieve this effect.
The helipad project addresses an ongoing challenge involving the president’s transportation by helicopter. The current fleet of Marine One helicopters, particularly the latest VH-92A Patriot model manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft (a Lockheed Martin subsidiary), emits exhaust that directs heat downward, creating the risk of burning the historic South Lawn’s grass. In response, these helicopters have temporarily been landing on the Ellipse, a park located south of the White House, while the new helipad is developed.
The site selected for the helipad near the South Portico—a traditional Marine One landing spot—is reportedly flatter than other sections of the lawn, chosen to minimize disruption and improve safety. The new landing pad is designed to protect the lawn from damage caused by helicopter exhaust and provide a designated, permanent area suitable for presidential arrivals and departures.
The $5 million-plus project is financed by Lockheed Martin, the parent company of Sikorsky Aircraft. Details regarding additional costs or delays resulting from the recent construction changes have not been disclosed. Lockheed Martin declined to comment on whether it would absorb extra expenses related to the revisions, while Clark Construction, the firm overseeing the work, deferred inquiries to the White House. The White House itself has not publicly commented on the president’s specific directives.
A spokesperson for the administration emphasized the importance of the new helipad, stating that it will allow for safer landings and better protection of the South Lawn. “Thanks to President Trump, the White House has never looked better, and it will only continue to get better under his leadership,” the spokesperson noted.
Photographs taken recently illustrate the scale of the work underway, including the removal of an initially installed 100-foot-wide granite presidential seal, highlighting the extent of the ongoing adjustments to the project. The construction teams have reportedly been working around the clock to meet the tight timeline ahead of upcoming international visits.
While helipads must be flat for safety, experts point out that a slight slope is acceptable for drainage, and the ambition to have a perfectly level landing pad may exceed typical requirements. The debate over the lawn’s grading encapsulates the tension between aesthetic preferences and practical construction considerations at the White House grounds.