白宫正在改造南草坪上新建的直升机坪，以容纳更大型的Marine One直升机。[1]白宫官员表示此举是为了"持续改进，以最好地满足白宫的需求"。[1]根据报道，特朗普对现有坪的外观和草坪坡度表示不满，该项目需在中国主席习近平9月下旬访美前完成。[1]
这一改造项目预计耗资500万至600万美元，全部由直升机制造商西科斯基公司资助。[1]白宫发言人Davis Ingle指出，"多年来，白宫亟需一个适当的直升机坪，既能让总统安全着陆，又能保护美丽的南草坪免受Marine One强大排气的伤害"。[1]现阶段，特朗普使用白宫南边的椭圆形公园作为Marine One的着陆点。[1]
南草坪某些地方的坡度高达20度。[1]新型VH-92A Patriot直升机总造价为49.5亿美元，共23架（包括21架正式用机和2架测试机），平均单价约2.15亿美元。[1]
The White House is undertaking a reconstruction of a newly built helipad on the South Lawn to accommodate an enlarged version of the Marine One presidential helicopter [1]. According to White House spokesperson Davis Ingle, the facility has long been needed to "allow the President to safely land while protecting the beautiful South Lawn from the powerful exhaust of Marine One" [1]. The project is being funded entirely by Sikorsky, the helicopter manufacturer, at a cost estimated between $5 million and $6 million [1].
The helipad renovation was prompted by concerns over the original design, with the South Lawn slope in certain areas reaching as steep as 20 degrees [1]. President Trump is reported to have been dissatisfied with both the appearance of the helipad and the surrounding terrain [1], and has requested completion of the work before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit in late September [1]. Currently, Trump uses the Ellipse, located south of the White House, as the landing point for Marine One [1]. The new VH-92A Patriot helicopter, which the upgraded helipad is designed to serve, represents a total program cost of $4.95 billion for a fleet of 21 aircraft plus two test models, translating to approximately $215 million per unit [1].