From Preservation Action:

This week, the Trump administration moved forward with plans to build a new 90,000 square foot ballroom at the White House with the surprise demolition of the entirety of the White House's East Wing, in spite of pledging that the new ballroom would not interfere with the existing structure and assurances of public engagement. The dramatic scenes of demolition at such a storied structure that is part of all of our national identity, has sparked shock and outrage among the preservation community and the citizenry at large.

Our partners at the National Trust for Historic Preservation issued a statement and sent a letter to the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service, and the Commission of Fine Arts, urging the pausing of further demolition until plans for the proposed ballroom go through legally required public review process. Last week, before the demolition began, the Society of Architectural Historians released a statement expressing great concern about the ballroom and offered several recommendations.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in August requested rigorous oversight, alignment with historic preservation standards, full transparency in funding and procurement, proportionality of design to the existing complex, and collaboration with expert practitioners. This week, AIA released a statement condemning the demolition and calling for transparency. They also posted a call to action urging congressional oversight over the demolition.