Trump Fires Six White House Arts Commission Members Amid $300M Ballroom Plans

President Donald Trump has fired all six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the independent federal agency responsible for advising on the design and aesthetics of federal buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C. The dismissed commissioners, who were appointed by former President Joe Biden, were expected to review Trump's controversial $300 million plan to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. The White House stated it plans to appoint new members more aligned with Trump's 'America First' policies, amid criticism and public backlash over the demolition and construction projects. The Commission of Fine Arts, established by Congress in 1910, has historically played a key role in guiding architectural developments in the capital, including notable memorials. Although the commission's jurisdiction over the ballroom project was somewhat unclear, fired members anticipated a full review of the plans before construction proceeded. This move follows earlier actions by both Trump and Biden to replace commission members to reflect their respective policy priorities.