DC Preservation League

Taken together, the two rulings constrain the President to making only the necessary repairs to the Kennedy Center that Congress authorized when it appropriated funding--and not the wholesale demolition and reconstruction that the President stated was his desired intent. This achieves one of our litigation goals. If the Executive Director's assurances turns out to be inaccurate, we will be right back before the judge, who has ordered that the case be kept open to allow for that possibility.

A federal judge ordered that President Trump’s name be removed from the Kennedy Center within two weeks and that officials halt its plan to close the venue for two years.

Read more on the decision here: https://wapo.st/4fJV0gs

The DC Preservation League has joined a coalition of 11 non-profit organizations that specialize in historic preservation, architecture, urban planning, and park protection in the filing of an amicus curiae brief (friend of the court brief) in support of the lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to stop President Trump from continuing construction of a massive, above-ground ballroom on the White House grounds.

The brief asks the appeals court to uphold a lower court’s preliminary injunction that successfully blocked any further above-ground construction of the ballroom. Because the Commissions (NCPC and CFA) green-lit the Ballroom project despite expert testimony and nearly 99% of public comments submitted opposed to the project, the justice system must enforce the law and remind the executive branch that the nation’s capital is not any one person's private real estate portfolio.

https://dcpreservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WH-Ballroom-case-amici-brief-as-filed-5-27-26.pdf

**Update** Despite more than 600 letters in opposition (two in favor), and a half dozen organizations and individuals who spoke publicly in opposition, the CFA didn't just approve the concept; the commission's chair, "exercised his right as chair" to approve the design as final, despite not having any information or visuals on the statuary that will be part of the program. View DCPL's Testimony here:https://dcpreservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CFA-Testimony-May-2026.pdf

Next up is the National Capital Planning Commission hearing on June 4th. Register to speak in person or submit written comments by June 3rd at noon through this link. https://www.ncpc.gov/participate/guidelines/

**Call to Action** Comment on the proposed Arch in Memorial Circle!

Plans are moving forward for a 250-foot-tall neoclassical "Victory Arch" to be located at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, positioned directly between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. This structure is intended to commemorate the U.S. Semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the country. However, it would overshadow the 99-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial and disrupt the historic views of Arlington House. Local preservationists have strongly opposed the project, and a coalition of Vietnam War veterans has filed a lawsuit to prevent its construction, arguing that it would alter the solemn atmosphere of Arlington Cemetery.

A revised design submission is scheduled to be discussed at the next Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) meeting on May 21, 2026. Those interested in testifying in person or submitting comments must sign up by noon on Wednesday, May 20th by emailing [email protected].

**Call to Action** Comment on the proposed Arch in Memorial Circle!

Plans are moving forward for a 250-foot-tall neoclassical "Victory Arch" to be located at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, positioned directly between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. This structure is intended to commemorate the U.S. Semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the country. However, it would overshadow the 99-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial and disrupt the historic views of Arlington House. Local preservationists have strongly opposed the project, and a coalition of Vietnam War veterans has filed a lawsuit to prevent its construction, arguing that it would alter the solemn atmosphere of Arlington Cemetery.

A revised design submission is scheduled to be discussed at the next Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) meeting on May 21, 2026. Those interested in testifying in person or submitting comments must sign up by noon on Wednesday, May 20th by emailing [email protected].

Continued help is needed to combat the painting of the EEOB! Let us know if you’re an expert in the link below.

Are you an expert in historic building conservation? The Eisenhower Executive Office Building needs your help!

We're especially looking for additional specialists with experience in three key areas to support the next stage of our advocacy to protect the grand EEOB:

• Paint application and testing for historic buildings
• Lighting system development for historic buildings
• Cost estimation for architectural renovation of historic buildings

Whether you're available for confidential consultation or public-facing assistance, we'd love to hear from you. Please send us your background and information via this form: https://form.jotform.com/253234163444048 We are also always glad to get submissions from other experts with architectural, historical, or historic preservation expertise that may be important.

Great work The Cultural Landscape Foundation!

The Cultural Landscape Foundation today sued the Department of the Interior over the painting of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. https://www.tclf.org/cultural-landscape-foundation-sues-department-interior-over-painting-reflecting-pool-national-mall

📸 Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C. - Photo by G. Edward Johnson, 2026

A letter from Susan Eisenhower regarding the proposed changes to the EEOB.

"Springtime in Washington, DC, a city that exudes a sense of timelessness and tradition, is like none other. Historic cherry blossoms and a riot of multicolored azaleas enrich the city, as they do every year with reliable consistency. They and the historic buildings they adorn are the legacy of our ancestors who planted, designed, and constructed this enduring beauty to last well beyond their lifetimes. But change is underway."

https://susaneisenhower.com/2026/05/02/not-so-fast-changes-to-the-white-house-complex-need-careful-consideration/

Comments on this proposal can still be submitted until May 6th at noon to the National Capital Planning Commission via email at [email protected].

Not So Fast: Changes to the White House Complex Need Careful Consideration The historic buildings of the White House complex remind us of the legacy of our ancestors who designed and constructed this enduring beauty to last well beyond their lifetimes. But change is under…

On May 7th, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) will consider a proposal to paint the historic granite exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), bright white. A National Historic Landmark (NHL) and one of the most significant examples of French Second Empire architecture in the United States.

The NCPC, when acting lawfully, plays a central role in reviewing and shaping federal plans and projects that impact the design, preservation, and development of Washington, DC, and the surrounding National Capital Region. NCPC’s mission is to preserve and enhance the extraordinary historical, cultural, and natural resources of the National Capital region.

Despite DCPL and Cultural Heritage Partners's pending federal lawsuit and the 900 public comments to the Commission on Fine Arts (100% of which opposed the project), the White House continues to advance this plan. They have submitted the same proposal to NCPC as to CFA, with no additional details or planning specifications. 

Your voice matters—whether you are an expert or simply someone who values our shared history.

Please act before 12:00 PM on Wednesday, May 6.

Email comments to [email protected]. or sign up to testify at https://www.ncpc.gov/participate/guidelines/

Learn more about why painting the EEOB's exterior will cause irreparable from the webinar hosted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation


https://youtu.be/-CskrwPrC2w?si=HyELec59i3rPQONs

National Trust for Historic Preservation 1 like. "Protecting the EISENHOWER EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING from Irreparable Harm"

Join DCPL's Executive Director, Rebecca Miller, for a panel discussion on why painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building would cause irreparable harm.

Register: https://bit.ly/4eLgkl9

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 | Members of the public have the opportunity to provide input on proposed alterations to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), including a plan to paint the historic granite facade in bright white, causing irreversible physical harm to this important structure.

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is scheduled to review the project and hear public comments on plans for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Thursday, May 7.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗼-𝗗𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁:

1. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: Protecting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Irreparable Harm on Thursday, April 30 at 3PM ET for an urgent conversation with David Scott Parker, FAIA—member of the National Trust Board of Trustees—and Rebecca Miller, executive director of DC Preservation League, about imminent and irreversible harm to this National Historic Landmark. Register for this free webinar: https://ow.ly/wCpT50YQQU1

2. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗖𝗣𝗖. The deadline for public comments is Wednesday, May 6 at noon ET and we encourage you to submit early: https://ow.ly/1LPQ50YQQU0

3. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 to join the NCPC meeting on Thursday, May 7. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building will be on the agenda. Visit https://ow.ly/zqbm50YQQU2 for details and the final agenda.

The EEOB is a National Historic Landmark and a contributing element of the Lafayette Square National Historic Landmark District that has been preserved, un-painted, since its completion in 1888.

The subtle appearance of granite walls, slate roof, and cast-iron detailing are integral to its architectural significance and are character-defining features.

Painting the exterior now would obscure the EEOB’s historic appearance and undermine its character-defining features. Coating the surface with an impermeable layer of paint would trap moisture within the masonry, and accelerate the building’s deterioration.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/hngu50YQR2o

Photo by Joel Sartore Photography