On Wednesday, November 12th, President Donald J. Trump revealed his plans to “beautify” the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) by painting its every exterior surface white. The scheme would permanently alter one of the most architecturally significant and historic structures in the Nation’s Capital.

With a dramatic exterior crafted in polished granite, slate, and ornate cast-iron trim, the EEOB is a National Historic Landmark and a defining element of the White House complex. The building houses 1,500 employees who work for the Executive Offices of the President and Vice President.

Forty-eight hours after the President’s reveal, our law firm and the DC Preservation League filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking emergency consideration of whether the President’s plans violate federal preservation and environmental laws.

On January 29, 2026, the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss that included an MOU between the Office of Administration and the General Services Administration signed that same day, purporting to delegate all authority to carry out the project to the OA, a component of the Executive Office of the President. The court held a hearing on February 6, 2026, and affirmed Plaintiffs’ ability to file an amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed their amended complaint on February 19, 2026.