Protecting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, DC
Joel Sartore Photography

Webinar: Protecting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Irreparable Harm
Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 3PM ET

Join us on Thursday, April 30 at 3PM ET for an urgent 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 will be recorded. Learn more and register online.

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)

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to review the project and hear public comments on plans for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Thursday, May 7.

Your To-Do List

  1. Join the webinar we are hosting on Thursday, April 30, discussing the potential harm to the EEOB if proposed plans move forward.
  2. Submit your comments to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The deadline for public comments is Wednesday, May 6 at noon ET and we encourage you to submit early. See below for details.
  3. Mark your calendar to join the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) meeting on Thursday, May 7. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building will be on the agenda. Visit ncpc.gov for details and the final agenda.

How to Submit Written Comments

  • Public Comment Deadline: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at noon ET
  • Visit the NCPC participation page.
  • Select the blue “Submit Written Comments" button.
  • When completing the form, select "Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project" for the "Select Projects" field dropdown.
  • Written comments may be submitted as plain text or as a PDF.
  • You may also register to speak at the meeting from the same participation page.

How to Join the Livestream

  • Public Meeting: Thursday, May 7, 2026, beginning at 1PM ET
  • NCPC will conduct this meeting online.
  • No registration is required to view the meeting online at https://www.ncpc.gov/live/.
  • The Eisenhower Executive Office Building project is expected to be on the agenda.

Resources to Inform Your Comments

Additional Resources

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.

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.

Celebrate!