Preservation groups win delay on makeover of White House neighbor Trump called ugly
Workers use ropes to climb down the mansard roof to wash the windows on the Old Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in August. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A federal agency has agreed to delay plans to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the White House, until at least the end of the year, according to recent court filings.
Historic preservation groups had filed a lawsuit seeking to block any changes to the 137-year-old National Historic Landmark without a formal review process. They have also requested a preliminary injunction to halt the work. The General Services Administration (GSA) confirmed the pause in a filing on Tuesday, reports the Washington Post.
White House officials declined to say whether President Trump—who called the building “always considered an ugly building” last week—would honor the agency’s commitment, and a White House spokesperson criticized the lawsuit’s organizers.
The lawsuit followed Trump’s comments during a Fox News interview, in which he suggested repainting the building from its traditional slate gray to white. “Gray is for funerals,” he said, showing a mockup with a white exterior. “Look at it, how beautiful that is with a coat of paint,” he added.
According to the GSA filing, the agency will not approve any exterior cleaning, painting, or other modifications before Dec. 31 while the preliminary injunction is under review. The preservation groups argue that altering the historic stone facade could cause irreversible damage and must undergo review under federal preservation laws.
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