WaPo: White House fires arts commission expected to review Trump construction projects

[TheBlackAdder]

The White House on Tuesday fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that had expected to review some of President Donald Trump’s construction projects, including his planned triumphal arch and White House ballroom.

“On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the Commission on Fine Arts is terminated, effective immediately,” reads an email reviewed by The Washington Post that was sent to one of the commissioners by a staffer in the White House presidential personnel office.

The commission, which was established by Congress more than a century ago and traditionally includes a mix of architects and urban planners, is charged with providing advice to the president, Congress and local government officials on design matters related to construction projects in the capital region. Its focus includes government buildings, monuments and memorials. White House officials have traditionally sought the agency’s approval.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/28/trump-arts-commission-firings-ballroom-arch/

When will this insanity stop?

[newdeal2]

1. To answer your question, it won't

Not until there’s serious pushback from SCOTUS or Congress or the voters revolt.

[Bread and Circuses]

2. I wonder who he'll appoint ? .... Some flunky

[Igel]

5. Doesn't matter, their charge is "advise."

No requirement for them to consent.

Any advice is 100% subject to dismissal without the least bit of attention. Their expectations don't constitute any legal obligation.

[Ilikepurple]

8. The world is made of more than legal obligations.

Expectations from commissions, heck even us lowly voters, have impacts on the world. Maybe not enough to stop the Trump administrations projects, but perhaps enough to make some independents to rethink their alliances? If we only discussed what options we have to legally obligate this administration, we’d be very limited. Restaurants have no legal obligation to serve good food. Stores have no legal obligation to even be open. People have no legal obligation to avoid racist speech in many cases. But, public opinion exists and has both political and market influence. I’m guessing not many people care about what the arts commission has to say, but these appointments matter because, as presumed experts, their voices matter.

[Coolgoober]

3. We don't need a commission

His construction projects are pieces of SHIT. And so is he.

[TheBlackAdder]

4. We don't need to follow UCC and we definitely don't need building inspectors.

The old movie, Dante's Inferno, comes to mind. Where a floating casino themes like the underworld catches fire and kills most inside.

[UTUSN]

6. We're in a reign of terror. Or, are we not allowed to call it that, like with "Nazi"?

[SunSeeker]

7. So are they going to sue to get their jobs back?

They're supposed to be an independent commission. He can't just fire them on a whim, let alone for the obvious nefarious reason that he wants to silence architectural/expert criticism.