White House Fires Entire Commission Overseeing Trump DC Construction Plans

The White House has fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that advises on design and construction projects in Washington, D.C. The dismissed members were all appointed by President Joe Biden and were expected to review controversial construction projects initiated by President Donald Trump, including a $300 million ballroom expansion of the White House and a proposed "Independence Arch." The commission, established in 1910, plays a key role in historic preservation and urban planning in the capital, but Trump has shown little patience for these constraints. The firings are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to replace Biden appointees on advisory boards with members aligned with Trump's "America First" policies. The East Wing of the White House was recently demolished to make way for the new ballroom, despite prior claims that construction would not impact the wing. This move follows similar purges on other urban-planning commissions and reflects Trump's push to impose his style on national landmarks and federal projects.