Key facts
- A new helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn.
- The project is funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, at a cost of $5-6 million.
- The helipad is designed to withstand the heat and weight of the new, larger Marine One helicopters.
- Construction has involved redoing parts of the landing pad, including a granite presidential seal.
- Marine One is temporarily using the Ellipse as a landing zone due to the ongoing construction.
The White House South Lawn is undergoing construction to install a permanent helipad for Marine One landings, a project funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. President Donald Trump confirmed the development, stating that the new granite helipad, estimated to cost between $5 million and $6 million, is necessary to protect the lawn from the increased power and downward-directed heat of the new fleet of Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot helicopters.
Trump explained that older helicopters caused grass to be ripped out upon landing, and the newer models are significantly more powerful. He also mentioned the helipad would feature the White House seal. Reports indicate construction has faced delays, with contractors ordered to redo portions of the work, including dismantling a large granite presidential seal, as the landing pad is reworked. During this period, Marine One is temporarily utilizing the Ellipse, a park south of the White House, as its landing zone.
The new VH-92A helicopter has been developed as the new Marine One for over a decade. In 2024, Joe Biden rode it from Chicago's O'Hare international airport to Soldier Field. Around the same time, the Marine Corps took delivery of the last of the 21-helicopter fleet, plus two test versions, for $4.95 billion, or about $215 million each. White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated the helipad is needed to allow the president to land safely and protect the lawn, adding that the White House has never looked better under President Trump's leadership.