To date, Donald Trump has fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts. This little known independent federal agency — which was tasked with reviewing the design of his gaudy White House ballroom and the much-mocked proposed ‘Arc de Trump’ in Washington, D.C. The decision comes on the heels of intense public outcry over the costly ballroom project. Wealthy donors intend to finance it privately, at an expected cost of $300 million.
The dismissal of the commission members was communicated in an email stating, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the Commission of Fine Arts is terminated, effective immediately.” This move aligns with Trump’s intent to install new members who will better reflect his administration’s priorities.
Trump imagines the ‘Arc de Trump’ as a more permanent, architecturally-refined version of the famed Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Atop this beautiful structure, a 300-foot tall, gold-leaf lady liberty will preside. The arch will stand just east of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Its goal is to be a great new civic and cultural landmark in the nation’s capital.
Opposition to the risky and expensive ballroom project has come from almost two-thirds of Americans, according to a new Yahoo/YouGov poll released Tuesday. Yet it has only a 25% approval rating among the public. The public is adamantly opposed to the plan to fundamentally alter one of America’s most iconic and historic homes. They are upset about both the aesthetic and fiscal effects of these changes.
We are excited to announce that construction for the new ballroom is officially underway! They’ve kicked this off already by blowing up half of the East Wing of the White House. Last week, a construction crew demolished parts of the East Wing. They’re building the flex space, collider of ideas, public square Trump doesn’t know he needs.
A White House official indicated that new appointments to the Commission would be forthcoming, stating, “We are preparing to appoint a new slate of members to the commission that are more aligned with President Trump’s America First Policies.” Unlike in previous years, no specific names have been announced as replacements for the dismissed members.
The Commission of Fine Arts is responsible for “giving expert advice to the President, the Congress and the federal and District of Columbia governments on matters of design and aesthetics,” according to its website. The sudden dismissal highlights how, even without a major transition, the Trump administration should fill these key advisory positions in the future.