Trump's $7.5B Paint Job

The Trump administration plans to put a coat of white paint on the exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a 19th-century landmark designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1969. The estimated cost of the paint job is at least $7.5 billion.

The proposed paint is a white mineral silica paint that is weather resistant and permeable, according to a draft environmental assessment. The assessment found that the paint is unlikely to trap moisture and deteriorate the stone.

The Eisenhower building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 1972. It sits next door to the White House and is a significant part of the nation's capital.

President Trump has previously criticized the building's gray exterior, calling it a 'really bad color'. The administration's proposal to paint the building is part of Trump's larger plan to beautify the nation's capital.

## Why it matters The plan to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building has sparked criticism from preservationists, architects, and historians who argue that granite is not meant to be painted and that paint would harm the building's historic character. The building's unpainted exterior granite walls, including their natural detail, were hand-selected by the architect and are central to the building's historic character and original design intent.

A federal judge allowed the administration to conduct paint tests on the building in August, finding that concerns raised by preservation groups did not prove the testing could cause 'irreparable harm'. The judge's ruling applied only to testing and not the entire project.

The controversy surrounding the paint job highlights the challenges of preserving historic landmarks while also modernizing and beautifying the nation's capital. The outcome of the proposal will have significant implications for the future of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the nation's approach to historic preservation.