Trump Fires All Commission of Fine Arts Members Over White House Projects

President Donald Trump has fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency responsible for reviewing design and aesthetic projects in Washington, D.C., including Trump's controversial $250 million White House ballroom and the planned Arc de Trump monument. The commission, which advises the president and government on capital design projects, was dismissed via email, and a White House official stated that a new slate of members aligned with Trump's America First policies would be appointed. The decision has sparked concerns over transparency and proper evaluation of the ballroom project, whose funding sources have also been questioned. The Commission of Fine Arts, established in 1910, traditionally reviews designs for memorials and government buildings with input from experts in art, architecture, and urban design. Trump's recent unveiling of a grand arch modeled after the Parisian Arc de Triomphe and the ongoing construction of the ballroom have drawn public criticism, with polls showing significant disapproval. Critics, including Senator Adam Schiff, have called for detailed accounts and more scrutiny of these expedited projects under the new commission shake-up.