The White House has recently terminated six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that plays a pivotal role in advising both the President and Congress on various design plans. These plans encompass the design of monuments, memorials, coins, and federal buildings. Established in 1910, the commission comprises seven experts specializing in architecture, art, urban design, and landscape design.
Since its inception, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has been responsible for reviewing significant projects, including the design for Arlington National Cemetery and Maya Lin's renowned Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The commission's work is crucial in maintaining the aesthetic and cultural integrity of the nation’s public spaces.
The six commissioners who were dismissed include 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—one of the architects involved in the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago—is now vacant. Lenihan confirmed the termination in an email to NPR, stating that their dismissal was effective immediately.
In a statement to NPR, the White House indicated that it is in the process of appointing a new group of commissioners who are expected to align more closely with President Trump's America First Policies. These new commissioners will play a vital role in advising President Trump on future projects, including the anticipated White House ballroom and a proposed monument reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This monument aims to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Architect Bruce Redman Becker, one of the recently fired commissioners, highlighted in an email that neither the White House ballroom project nor the proposed monument has been submitted for review yet. As of now, President Trump has not announced who will fill the vacant commissioner positions.
During President Trump's first term, Justin Shubow, the founder and president of the National Civic Art Society, served as the commission's chair, and James McCrery, an architect for the White House ballroom, was also a commissioner. In a notable political shift, President Biden dismissed four commissioners appointed during Trump's administration in 2021, including Shubow, who advocates for traditional and classical architecture.
This recent dismissal of six members from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts marks a significant shift in the composition of the commission, reflecting broader political changes and differing views on architectural and cultural priorities in the United States.
