The Trump administration never obtained a permit from Washington to identify and remove asbestos before it tore down the White House’s East Wing in October.
The omission, brought to light by a public records request to the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment, highlights in a legally gray area due to the White House’s unique position as a federal jurisdiction within the nation’s capital.
And the decision not to follow city protocol, as the White House and the Trump administration have in the past, deepens controversy over the abrupt demolition of the 83-year-old building.
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The White House is still legally responsible for taking safety precautions, but federal standards do not require a regulator to sign off on abatement plans beforehand.
