White House Helipad Is Trump’s Latest Construction Project

New infrastructure could mitigate the Sikorsky VH-92A helicopter’s penchant for charring the South Lawn.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, July 01, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Sikorsky’s VH-92A, a variant of the manufacturer’s S-92, is one of several helicopters that bears the call sign Marine One when carrying the president. [Credit: Naval Air Systems Command/ Owen Hoffmann]

Key Takeaways:

The White House's South Lawn is undergoing renovation to build a new helipad, reportedly initiated by President Trump.
The new helipad aims to accommodate the VH-92A Patriot helicopters (the intended Marine One replacement), which currently cannot land on the lawn without charring the grass due to their exhaust.
Sikorsky's parent company, Lockheed Martin, reportedly donated $5 million to fund the construction of the new helipad.
The VH-92A fleet has faced delays and operational restrictions due to issues with communication systems and the angle of its exhaust vents.

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The White House’s picturesque South Lawn is reportedly getting a renovation that would stop helicopters from charring the grass.

The Washington Post on Tuesday reported that, overnight, crews descended on the South Lawn to begin building a new helipad near the traditional landing spot for Marine One, the call sign for whichever helicopter is carrying the president. One of these rotorcraft, Sikorsky’s VH-92A Patriot, has never lifted off from the White House due to its penchant for torching the lawn.