How do you turn the most iconic building in America into a personal temple to bad taste? If you’re Donald Trump, start by firing every single member of the Commission of Fine Arts—the independent, unpaid watchdogs who’ve actually read a book on historic preservation—and then plow ahead to build your own mega-ballroom, critics, experts, and public process be damned.

Why the Commission Matters—and Why Trump Hates It

The CFA is the literal last line of defense standing between Washington’s landmarks and the whims of whoever’s sitting in the Oval Office. Their only job: make sure the White House doesn’t get (further) tarted up like a casino lobby. You don’t get paid, but you do get fired by email if you annoy the president—especially if your advice might slow down construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

How This Actually Happened

On Oct. 28, 2025, Trump’s White House axed all six sitting CFA commissioners (one seat was already empty) via email. Their crime? Having the nerve to expect—even politely—that a gold-plated, Versailles-wannabe ballroom smack in the East Wing should go through basic review and public input. Technically, the CFA’s role is “advisory,” a little Truman-era loophole presidents have used to sidestep scrutiny, but in practice their signoff is standard for White House construction.

Stacking Other Commissions, Just To Be Sure

Is this about historic architecture or unchecked ego? Don’t make me laugh. Trump is also quietly packing the National Capital Planning Commission with loyal allies to slam-dunk approval. Think cabinet yes-men, a couple of pliable senators, and assorted MAGA muscle. Totally normal democratic oversight, right?

But Wait—What About the Law?

The CFA is supposed to safeguard the “dignity of the nation’s capital” by reviewing every major project, from statues to the White House itself. But thanks to a 1947 fudge (thanks, Harry Truman, for your “advisory” dodge on your balcony), the president can bulldoze all advice and proceed anyway—the only thing stopping him is basic decency and respect for history. Which, in Trump’s case, were bulldozed ages ago.

Preservationists Sound the Alarm (and Get Ignored)

Nonprofits like the National Trust for Historic Preservation are begging the Trump administration not to raze the East Wing until all “public review processes” are honored. They got about the response you’d expect. “Crickets” is too polite.

What Does All This Destroy?

For over a century, every White House remodel went through CFA scrutiny—no matter the president. Booting them means losing the last bit of nonpartisan oversight protecting American history from the whims of insecure strongmen with a gold fetish. If this becomes the norm, say goodbye to transparency, goodbye to accountability, and goodbye to the very idea that public spaces should belong to the public.

Ten Real Sources (No, Seriously, Read These):

• The Daily Beast (main source for this story)
• CFA Official Website
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Washington Post
• CFA News: Appointments
• President Biden’s CFA Appointments
• Reuters
• Architectural Record
• NPR
• Associated Press

The Bigger Picture? Our Democracy is at Stake

This isn’t just about a hideous ballroom or historical vandalism—it’s about dismantling any check on power, about a president steamrolling independent oversight for personal indulgence, and about the creeping normalization of government acting like a hostile takeover. If you cherish democracy, or even just decent architecture, this ought to make you sick.