Protecting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Members of the public have the opportunity to provide input on proposed alterations to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), including a plan to paint the historic granite facade in bright white causing irreversible physical harm to this important structure.
The EEOB is a National Historic Landmark and a contributing element of the Lafayette Square National Historic Landmark District that has been preserved, un-painted, since its completion in 1888. The subtle appearance of granite walls, slate roof, and cast-iron detailing are integral to its architectural significance and are character-defining features. Painting the exterior now would obscure the EEOB’s historic appearance and undermine its character-defining features. Coating the surface with an impermeable layer of paint would trap moisture within the masonry, and accelerate the building’s deterioration.
National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)
- Eisenhower Executive Office Building alterations were on the agenda for the May 7 meeting. Materials are available on the NCPC website.
- Statement from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Response to May 7 NCPC Meeting.
- The meeting recording will be available on the NCPC video page.
U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA)
- The CFA reviewed a concept design proposal for alterations to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) during the April 16 meeting and approved the concept, "conditional upon the specification and successful technical testing of the proposed exterior paint."
- Materials for this meeting including submitted documents are available on the CFA website.
Resources and Information
- Read the Comments Submitted by Rob Nieweg on behalf of the National Trust to NCPC (May 6, 2026)
- Read the Comments Submitted by David Scott Parker, FAIA to NCPC (May 5, 2026)
- Read the Comments Submitted by Kim Hoagland, professor emerita to NCPC (May 3, 2026)
- National Trust Letter Regarding Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Improvements Concept (April 15, 2026)
- Protecting the EEOB (Cultural Heritage Partners)
Protecting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Irreparable Harm
Watch this conversation with David Scott Parker, FAIA—member of the National Trust Board of Trustees—and Rebecca Miller, executive director of DC Preservation League, about imminent and irreversible harm to this National Historic Landmark. The conversation will be facilitated by Tom Mayes, the chief legal officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This webinar was recorded on April 30.
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This May, celebrate the historic sites, neighborhoods, and landmarks that tell the full American story—places that remind us of how far we've come and how far we still have to go.
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