WASHINGTON — A proposal by President Donald Trump to paint the exterior of the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building white could cost taxpayers at least $7.5 million and is drawing criticism from preservationists, architects and federal planning officials.
The project, currently under review by the National Capital Planning Commission, is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape and beautify areas surrounding the White House and downtown Washington.
Ryan Erb, construction operations and facilities manager in the White House Office of Administration, discussed the proposal during a commission meeting Thursday. The commission did not approve the project and instead requested additional details before moving forward.
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, often referred to as the EEOB, sits adjacent to the White House and serves as office space for White House staff and executive branch officials. Constructed in 1888 after 17 years of work, the building is designated as a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The proposed paint project is one component of a larger White House renovation initiative. Other efforts include plans to replace the East Wing with a new ballroom capable of holding 1,000 people and ongoing upgrades to Lafayette Park across from the White House.
“President Trump continues to beautify the White House and our Nation’s Capital and is giving it the glory it deserves — something everyone should celebrate,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement following the commission meeting.
According to Erb, the administration is considering two options: painting the entire granite exterior white or painting most of the structure while leaving the granite base exposed. Officials indicated the preferred option is to paint the full exterior.
Trump previously criticized the building’s natural gray granite appearance, calling it “a really bad color.”
Erb said the White House is working with outside vendors to test a silicate-based paint on granite samples sourced from a quarry in Maine. Since testing cannot be conducted directly on the building, officials are relying on newly quarried stone rather than the building’s original aged granite.
“The initial data was encouraging for this process,” Erb said during the meeting.
The estimated $7.5 million cost currently applies only to the exterior painting work and would be funded through existing federal maintenance and upkeep budgets, according to administration officials.
Historic preservation advocates and architectural experts strongly opposed the proposal during public comments before the planning commission.
“Painting the granite facade of the building white will adversely and permanently alter this important landmark, and should be rejected,” said Priya Jain of the Society of Architectural Historians.
Opponents argue that granite surfaces are not intended to be painted and warn that applying paint could trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and permanently damage the historic material.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation also voiced concerns, stating that the granite’s “subtle and rich colors” are essential to the building’s historical character. The organization has separately filed litigation related to other White House construction projects, including the proposed ballroom expansion.
More than 2,000 public comments submitted to the planning commission reportedly opposed the paint proposal. Critics cited concerns over taxpayer spending and argued that painting the building white could disrupt the architectural balance of Pennsylvania Avenue and visually overpower the White House itself.
The National Capital Planning Commission requested additional information from the White House, including more details about the paint testing process and alternative methods to improve the building’s appearance without painting the granite facade.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts is also reviewing the proposal and recently requested further information before taking action. Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit challenging the paint project remains pending in court.
Originally reported by Darlene Superville | The Associated Press in NBC Washington.
