As construction continues on a new $300 million grand ballroom at the White House, the Trump administration has fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts. The commission would be responsible for reviewing the new ballroom plans.
In an email to media outlets, the White House said it was preparing to appoint a new slate of members who are more aligned with Trump’s America First policies.
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All six members that Trump dismissed were appointed by former President Joe Biden.
The commission’s role is to advise the president and Congress on “matters of design and aesthetics.” It ensures that new projects reflect and uphold the dignity of the nation’s capital.
Trump’s other design plans
In addition to the ballroom project, which involves demolishing parts of the East Wing to create space, President Donald Trump has also announced plans to build an arch along the Potomac River.
He did not specify how much the arch might cost. However, he said the administration could use leftover cash from donations to build the new ballroom.
Efforts to halt construction
The dismissals come after the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter urging the administration to stop construction. It asked the president to pause until the National Capital Planning Commission approved the plans.
According to CBS News, there is a precedent to the dismissals. In 1947, former President Harry Truman fired members of the same commission after they opposed his plan to add a balcony to the White House’s south portico.
