1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

In the wake of the demolition of a portion of the White House, I’m writing to express my strong opposition to these kinds of Trump vanity projects without any of the statutorily required reviews or public input. Specifically, I support at least the passage of H.R. 6896. (Rep.Stansbury) to provide for oversight and alteration of Federal buildings. Meanwhile I support the lawsuit and position of The National Trust for Historic Preservation, an organization chartered by Congress in 1949 to oversee the country's historic architecture, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging serious violations of law. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration violated Article IV of the Constitution by acting without Congressional input on federal property, which falls under Congress's exclusive power. Additionally, the General Services Administration, National Park Service, and Department of Interior allegedly violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to conduct an environmental assessment, publish an environmental impact statement, obtain approval from the National Capitol Planning Commission, secure review from the Commission of Fine Arts, or allow for public review and comment. As the National Trust stated in its filing, no president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever, and no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in. This is not an isolated incident. In November, Cultural Heritage Partners sued to stop unauthorized painting and renovation of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building without submitting plans for review. A former GSA official indicated in a declaration that the administration appeared to be preparing for the demolition of four historically significant federal buildings in Washington. Gregory Werkheiser, a law partner at Cultural Heritage Partners, told a federal judge that GSA doesn't have the president's actions under control. I urge you to take immediate action in support of H.R. 6896 to ensure that all federal building projects comply with existing laws requiring environmental review, expert consultation, and public comment. The White House belongs to the American people, and we deserve transparency and adherence to the rule of law. Thank you.