Preservationists sue to stop Trump from painting Eisenhower building

By Pamela King | 11/17/2025 04:18 PM EST

Challengers say they were inspired to move quickly after the sudden demolition of the White House’s East Wing.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is seen in Washington.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is seen in Washington on Friday. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Preservationists are going to court to stop President Donald Trump from making his mark on another historic building in the nation’s capital.

After Trump said in an interview last week that he was “getting bids right now” to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white, preservationists sued the administration and will soon ask a federal court in Washington to immediately halt the president’s plans.

“I’ve never sought a restraining order against a sitting president,” said Greg Werkheiser, founding partner of the Cultural Heritage Partners law firm and one of the challengers in the case. “But unusual times call for unusual strategies.”

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Werkheiser said he was inspired to move quickly with the legal challenge after the president’s musings about plans to build a massive ballroom led to the abrupt demolition last month of the White House’s East Wing.

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