1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

Use your appropriations authority to block funding for the proposed $7.5 million paint job on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. This is wasteful spending on a project that will permanently damage a National Historic Landmark. Painting granite is fundamentally unsound. Preservationists and architects have made clear that paint will trap moisture and deteriorate the stone. The building opened in 1888 after 17 years of construction, and its gray granite exterior is part of its historic character. The $7.5 million price tag covers only the initial paint job, not ongoing maintenance costs that will add up as the paint inevitably fails on an inappropriate surface. More than 2,000 public comments submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission opposed this plan. The commission itself declined approval and requested more information. A federal lawsuit is already challenging the project. This is not a priority that justifies millions in taxpayer dollars when alternatives like improved landscaping and lighting could enhance the building's appearance without destroying its historic fabric. Congress controls federal spending. Refuse to appropriate funds for this project.