One battle after another: Trump’s war on federal architecture

On 2 February 2026, The Art Newspaper detailed President Donald Trump’s recent interventions in Washington, DC architecture, including demolishing the White House’s historic East Wing in October to build a $400 million ballroom, an action that prompted a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The article also reports that Trump added his name to the façade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and announced it would close for two years for renovations starting in summer 2026, and that he suggested painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) all white. It notes that 45 federal buildings overseen by the General Services Administration (GSA) were targeted for “accelerated” disposal, raising concerns about potential loss of architecture and site-specific art. A lawsuit brought by Cultural Heritage Partners in November sought to block the EEOB “whitewashing,” and the firm withdrew a temporary restraining order motion after government assurances that no work would occur before 1 March.

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