Preserve The Eisenhower Building Beside The White House

Immediate Need to Block Plan to Paint the Eisenhower Building I urge you to stop President Trump’s stated intent to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white. This proposal risks permanent damage to a National Historic Landmark located immediately next to the White House and threatens the integrity of one of the nation’s most important public buildings. Threat to a National Historic Landmark The Eisenhower Building sits beside the White House and is a defining example of the French Second Empire style. Its unpainted granite and slate exterior has remained unchanged for nearly 150 years. Painting masonry that was never meant to be coated would trap moisture, accelerate deterioration, and permanently alter the building’s historic character in ways that cannot be reversed. Serious Legal Concerns Federal law requires full review under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act before any major alteration to a historic federal property takes place. Preservation specialists and legal filings indicate that these mandatory processes have not been followed. Public reports show that the administration announced the project before consulting the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation or the DC State Historic Preservation Office. Precedent for Executive Overreach This proposal is part of a broader pattern of unilateral changes within the White House complex. Allowing this project to proceed would weaken protections for historic federal properties and invite further unauthorized alterations made without expert review or public accountability. Requested Congressional Actions I ask that you call for immediate oversight hearings, require disclosure of all planning and procurement documents, and ensure that no physical changes occur until full legal review is completed. Our national heritage belongs to the public, not to the personal aesthetic preferences of any president.