East Wing demolition highlights loopholes in preservation law

‘We could see the whole White House come down’

The Trump administration’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House without consulting preservation agencies and organizations is a reflection in part of the unusual position the building has in historical preservation law.

And when it comes time to jump through bureaucratic hoops to construct the actual 90,000-square-foot ballroom, President Donald Trump has stacked the deck of the local planning commission in such a way as to make approval all but a foregone conclusion.

Sara Bronin, who chaired the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation during the Biden administration, said she’s looking at possible legal remedies, including who may have a cause of action.

“There’s a sense that protections on one of the country’s most important buildings should have been a lot stronger from the start,” Bronin added. “And as we look to what is going to happen next, including plans for construction, I do think we need to get a better understanding about every step that the White House didn’t take this time and must take next time.”

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By:  David Jordan
Source: Roll Call

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