The Jefferson Memorial and US Capitol are seen alongside the Tidal Basin in an aerial photograph taken on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, DC, on October 22, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
The White House has dismissed six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that provides guidance on design plans for monuments, memorials, and federal buildings. The commission, composed of experts in various fields, has played a vital role in reviewing significant projects since its establishment in 1910.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the terminated commissioners are Bruce Redman Becker, Peter D. Cook, Lisa E. Delplace, William J. Lenihan, Justin Garrett Moore, and vice chair Hazel Ruth Edwards. The chair position, previously held by Billie Tsien, is now vacant. Lenihan confirmed the abrupt termination of the six members in an email to NPR.
The White House stated in an email to NPR that it is in the process of appointing new members to the commission who align more closely with President Trump’s policies. These new appointees would have advised the President on upcoming projects, including the construction of a White House ballroom and a monument reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe.
Architect Bruce Redman Becker, one of the dismissed commissioners, mentioned in an email to NPR that neither of the proposed projects had undergone the review process yet. President Trump has yet to reveal the names of the new commissioners.
During his previous term, President Trump had appointed individuals such as Justin Shubow and James McCrery to the commission. However, in 2021, President Biden removed four commissioners appointed by Trump, including Shubow, who shares a passion for traditional and classical architecture with the former President.
The White House has not responded to NPR’s request for comments at this time.
