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White House Submits Proposal to Paint Eisenhower Executive Office Building White

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Trump Administration Proposes Painting Historic EEOB White

The Trump administration has submitted a formal proposal to paint the exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) white. The plan, which includes architectural renderings, was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) for review. The CFA, a panel that advises on public architecture and design in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to hear a presentation on the proposal on April 16.

The Proposal and Its Rationale

The proposal was submitted by the Executive Office of the President. The submitted documents state that the building, completed in 1888, "has long been criticized" and "has fallen into disrepair since its completion."

The administration argues the building's color and design "does not align visually with the surrounding architecture and lacks any symbolic cohesion with the White House."

The administration's plans cite specific concerns:

  • Aesthetic and Symbolic Alignment: The documents argue that "the color, design, and massing of the existing structure does not align visually with the surrounding architecture and lacks any symbolic cohesion with the White House."
  • Physical Condition: The plans point to examples of cracks and what they describe as poor exterior maintenance as evidence of disrepair.
  • Maintenance Solution: The proposal advocates for painting the stone facade, describing it as a "repeatable" solution. It states, "the inability to bring the stone facade back to a baseline color has plagued the maintenance of the [Executive Office Building] in the past, and will continue to plague it if not addressed."

The submission included renderings depicting the building with a white exterior.

Background on the Building

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is a French Second Empire-style structure with a slate-gray exterior. It is located directly across a driveway from the White House's West Wing. The building provides office space for segments of the president's staff, including the National Security Council.

Next Steps in the Process

The proposal is now before the Commission of Fine Arts. The CFA's role is to provide advisory recommendations on matters of design and aesthetics within the nation's capital. The members of the commission are appointed by the president.