President Trump fired all six members of Washington’s Commission of Fine Arts as he advances sweeping building plans: a 90,000‑square‑foot White House ballroom replacing the East Wing and a triumphal arch across the river. The White House will appoint replacements aligned with “America First” policies and has set classical design as the default for D.C.-area federal buildings. Officials say the ballroom plan will go to the National Capital Planning Commission. Preservation groups and three Democratic lawmakers criticized secrecy; the White House dismissed “manufactured outrage,” arguing the complex needs a larger event space.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.