President Donald Trump fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts on Tuesday, an independent federal agency that advises on design matters related to government buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C.
The terminations were first reported by The Washington Post. The six removed commissioners were appointed to four-year terms by Joe Biden, several of which weren’t supposed to end until 2028.
This shake-up comes as Trump prepares for several high-profile construction projects, including a $300 million White House ballroom and his proposed “Arc de Trump” near the Arlington Memorial Bridge. In 2021, Biden fired four commissioners who’d been appointed by Trump.
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Established by Congress in 1910, the CFA has traditionally provided guidance on the aesthetic aspects of government buildings, memorials, and public spaces in the capital. The Post report notes that there is some precedent for presidents to avoid this review for changes made within the White House, adding that some of the axed commissioners expected to play a role in the planning of the Arc.
An unnamed White House official confirmed the dismissals and explained that a new slate of commissioners would be appointed, “more aligned with President Trump’s ‘America First’ policies.”
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