White House Says Sikorsky Fully Funds $5M Helipad Redo

Workers have begun dismantling the project, including a 100-foot-wide presidential seal, according to The Washington Post. The White House says Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, is fully funding the work. Spokesman Davis Ingle said the project addresses a long-standing need for a proper landing pad that protects the lawn from Marine One's exhaust.

Trump estimated the cost at $5 million to $6 million and wants it finished by September for a state visit from China's President Xi Jinping. The new VH-92A Patriot helicopters, delivered in 2024 under a $1.24 billion contract awarded by the Obama administration, singe the grass with downward heat, prompting the granite pad. Federal guidelines don't require perfectly level helipads, but the lawn slopes about 20 degrees in places, exceeding recommended limits. Trump said Sikorsky agreed to pay because the company "felt a little bit guilty" about the damage.