At a Glance
- President Trump quietly named four new members to the Commission of Fine Arts this week.
- The panel will review his planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom on Jan. 22.
- The project has already triggered a federal lawsuit after the East Wing was demolished.
- Why it matters: The appointments give the commission a quorum, moving the controversial expansion closer to approval.
President Trump has advanced his long-promised White House ballroom by installing four new members on the Commission of Fine Arts, the federal board that must approve design changes to the mansion. The move guarantees the panel can meet later this month to consider the sprawling addition.
New Appointments Revealed in Court Filing
The White House disclosed the appointments in court papers filed Thursday as part of a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The filing shows the administration added:
- James McCrery, an architect who previously led the ballroom project until Trump replaced him late last year.
- Mary Anne Carter, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts and a former Rick Scott staffer.
- Roger Kimball, an art critic and conservative commentator from Connecticut.
- Matthew Taylor of Washington, D.C.
The commission, normally seven strong, had lacked a quorum for months after Trump dismissed six commissioners last fall. A seventh member had resigned earlier after the president took office because their term expired.
Project Scope and Financing
The proposed East Wing Modernization would add:
- 90,000 square feet (8,400 square meters) of new space.
- A grand ballroom financed entirely by private donations, including from Trump himself.
- A footprint that required the demolition of the existing East Wing.
The price tag has ballooned to roughly $400 million, according to figures referenced in the litigation.
Legal Hurdles Ahead
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to halt construction until both the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission complete independent reviews. The Trust argues the administration violated federal law by starting demolition before obtaining the required approvals or allowing public comment.
Key upcoming dates:
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 22 | Commission of Fine Arts meeting with ballroom on agenda |
| Feb. 19 | Formal White House presentation to the commission |
| March 19 | Possible completion of panel review |
Deputy Assistant to the President Heather Martin outlined the schedule in the court filing.
Second Federal Panel Weighs In
The National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees construction on federal land, heard an initial presentation about the project at its Jan. 8 meeting. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration has authority to demolish part of the East Wing, citing an unspecified “legal opinion.”
What Happens Next
With a restored quorum, the Commission of Fine Arts could green-light design details as early as its Jan. 22 session. Final approvals from both federal panels would clear the path for construction to proceed on a project that would permanently alter the public face of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and cement a physical legacy to Trump for decades.
The White House and the Commission of Fine Arts did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.
