WASHINGTON, D.C.– Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led 59 of his congressional colleagues in a letter to President Trump demanding a halt to his White House ballroom “vanity project” until the president can demonstrate how his demolition of the East Wing complies with federal law.
“We oppose you taking a wrecking ball to your temporary residence without advising its over 300 million owners,” Raskin and his colleagues wrote. “You are the temporary occupant and steward of this structure, just like every American President since John Adams.”
The lawmakers questioned if the East Wing demolition complied with the White House Preservation Act, which governs the care and preservation of the White House and its contents, saying “At this time, neither Congress nor the over 300 million Americans who actually own the White House are aware of what you have done to safeguard the objects in the East Wing that hold cultural and historic significance to the country.” As required by law, items of historic or artistic interest should be transferred to the Smithsonian Institution for storage.
“We are especially troubled because you have a history of demolishing historic property without notice or consent,” the lawmakers continued. “To clear the site for your Trump Tower in New York, you destroyed two historically significant friezes that you promised to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
To make way for the billionaire’s ballroom, the White House ceased public tours of the East Wing. Until September, the White House welcomed approximately 10,000 visitors per week to tour the People’s House. With White House holiday tours just around the corner, the lawmakers demanded to know when tour access to the People’s House will be restored to the American people.
Read the full letter here.