Federal Oversight and Public Lands

The Commission of Fine Arts, now largely filled with Trump appointees, voted unanimously (six in favor, one recusal) after fast‑tracking a same‑day final vote to approve President Trump’s roughly $400 million East Wing overhaul and new ballroom. The endorsement came amid more than 2,000 public comments overwhelmingly opposed, allegations about private donor funding routed through the National Park Service, a pending National Trust lawsuit, and the requirement that the project still clear the National Capital Planning Commission on March 5.