Secret White House bunker may be upgraded under East Wing (Full Transcript)

A look at the PEOC’s history, its emergency role, and why any modern upgrade could address emerging threats like EMP or kinetic attacks.

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[00:00:00] Speaker 1: President Trump is rebuilding a secret bunker under the East Wing. And no, this isn't the Situation Room, which is used 24 hours a day. The Presidential Emergency Operations Center, or PEOC, is just for emergencies, and it's fortified to be safe from a nuclear attack or even a plane crash. You've seen it in movies like A House of Dynamite, White House Down, and Olympus Has Fallen. It was used during protests in the Nixon era, and on 9-11, President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney and other top officials sheltered there when the White House was under perceived threat. It was built after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, when Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the secret construction of a secure underground bunker and built the East Wing on top.

[00:00:42] Speaker 2: It is really meant for being activated during catastrophic or immediate threats to the President of the United States, and really designed to give a command and control and survivability for any type of attack. Think of it as a very early era submarine that was self-contained.

[00:01:03] Speaker 1: Today, those underground facilities have been dismantled, with the East Wing once again under construction for Trump's sprawling new ballroom, though the Secret Service has secure backup options available should the need arise. The antiquated bunker is likely to get an upgrade to counter new threats, but officials haven't exactly been forthcoming on what's going on underground.

[00:01:22] Speaker 3: There are some things regarding this project that are, frankly, of top-secret nature that we are currently working on.

[00:01:31] Speaker 1: It's unlikely we'll have any visibility into the plans for the underground project anytime soon.

[00:01:36] Speaker 2: Are we talking about kinetic attacks? Are we talking about electromagnetic pulse attacks against the White House? So there is a broad spectrum of emerging threats that this new facility will have to face as years go on.

Summary

The transcript discusses reports that President Trump is rebuilding or upgrading a secret underground bunker beneath the White House East Wing, known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). The PEOC is intended for use only during catastrophic threats, providing hardened command-and-control capabilities resistant to nuclear attack, plane crashes, and other emergencies. Historically, it was built after Pearl Harbor under FDR, used during Nixon-era protests, and served as a shelter for top officials during 9/11. While the East Wing is undergoing construction for a new ballroom and past underground facilities were reportedly dismantled, officials say details of any underground project remain top secret. Experts suggest upgrades may address emerging threats such as kinetic attacks and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) scenarios.

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Title

Reports of White House PEOC bunker upgrades under East Wing

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Keywords

White House Remove

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East Wing

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Presidential Emergency Operations Center Remove

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PEOC

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bunker

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Trump

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Secret Service Remove

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nuclear hardening Remove

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9/11

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Pearl Harbor Remove

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FDR

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command and control Remove

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EMP

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security upgrades Remove

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Key Takeaways

The PEOC is an emergency-only hardened facility designed for presidential continuity during extreme threats.
The bunker’s origins trace to post–Pearl Harbor security measures ordered by FDR, with the East Wing built above it.
The PEOC has been used in notable moments including Nixon-era unrest and 9/11.
Current East Wing construction and potential underground work are described as secret, with officials withholding specifics.
Any modernization would likely target newer threat categories, including kinetic strikes and EMP attacks.

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Sentiments

Neutral: The tone is informational and security-focused, describing historical context and possible upgrades without overt approval or condemnation, while emphasizing secrecy and emerging threats.

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