President Donald Trump’s proposal to paint the exterior granite of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white is being reviewed in a hearing by the National Capital Planning Commission, according to multiple outlets. The building is a National Historic Landmark and part of the White House complex. Trump has described the current gray granite as a “really bad color,” and White House officials say the preference is to paint all or most of the building because the exterior is stained and in “great disrepair.” White House officials also submitted an alternative option that would paint most of the building while leaving the granite unpainted on the base.
Preservationists, architects, historians and others oppose the plan, arguing that granite is not meant to be painted and that coating it could trap moisture, deteriorate the stone, and fail to address underlying condition issues. Public comments submitted to the commission are reported as overwhelmingly against the project. A staff recommendation reportedly supports further consideration of cleaning the building but says more information is needed to evaluate painting, including details about the type of paint and other comparable uses on exterior granite. A separate federal review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts is also part of the process. The White House official involved in the project says the effort could cost at least $7.5 million.
