All six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, a federal agency that reviews major construction projects in Washington, D.C., including President Donald Trump’s planned triumphal arch and a new White House ballroom, have been fired. The commissioners, appointed under former President Joe Biden to four-year terms, received termination emails on October 28, with several expected to serve through 2028. The move follows a pattern of political turnover at the agency, as Biden had previously fired Trump appointees in 2021. Architect Bruce Becker, one of the fired commissioners, noted the commission’s role in shaping the nation’s capital and reviewing plans for the new structure replacing the historic East Wing.
This firing matters because it removes independent oversight of Trump’s proposed construction projects in the capital, including a ballroom that has drawn concerns from preservation groups like the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Commission of Fine Arts, established by Congress over a century ago, provides expert advice on government buildings, monuments, and memorials. The Trump administration has also replaced Biden appointees on the National Capital Planning Commission, another review body, with allies who now hold a majority. These moves raise questions about the integrity of the design review process for federal projects and the preservation of historic structures in Washington.