White House ballroom's original architect picked for commission reviewing the project
Source: CBS News
Updated on: January 16, 2026 / 7:16 AM EST / CBS News
James McCrery, once President Trump's handpicked architect for the White House ballroom, has been appointed to serve on a commission that will review the project he once led. The appointment was noted in a court filing late Thursday, which confirmed that President Trump appointed four people to serve on the Commission of Fine Arts.
McCrery served on the commission from 2019-2024. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Others commission appointments include National Endowment for the Arts chairwoman Mary Anne Carter, conservative writer Roger Kimball and Matthew Taylor of Washington, D.C.
The disclosure came as part of a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation which is seeking to delay East Wing construction until the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission processes are completed — and Congress approves the project.
Mr. Trump fired six sitting members of the Commission of Fine Arts in October.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-mccrery-white-house-ballroom-architect-commission-reviewing-project/
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