Overview
- The administration mapped an accelerated schedule: NCPC information session Jan. 8, CFA presentation Jan. 15, CFA vote Feb. 19, and NCPC vote March 5, with above‑ground work not before April per court filings.
- CFA has acknowledged receiving an application, while NCPC said it had not yet received one as of this week, highlighting conflicting accounts of the project’s status.
- The East Wing has already been demolished and below‑ground work is proceeding, which critics say risks predetermining design and undermining meaningful public review.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt the project for bypassing required reviews, with a preliminary‑injunction hearing expected later in January.
- Reporting indicates the White House is moving to reinstall or add Trump‑aligned members to the Commission of Fine Arts, prompting concerns about the independence of oversight.