October 23, 2025

By now, many of you are aware of the ongoing demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House. While our namesake indicates we keep our eyes focused on local Milwaukee issues only, I would be remiss if MPA responded only in silence to this historic moment.

We are deeply troubled that this project has proceeded with such unprecedented speed with no preservation oversight. While it is true that the White House is exempt from direct Section 106 committee review, any alteration should be thoroughly investigated by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts to minimize the impact of a project and protect the structure's historic significance.

It goes without saying that we at MPA are extremely disheartened by this development, and will mourn the sudden loss of the East Wing. Milwaukee Preservation Alliance strives each day to Make Preservation Mainstream so that our communities can learn and delight in the nature of our historic fabric, and we will continue to stand by due process and procedure when it comes to any alterations to vital historic fabric - no matter the location.

-Emma Rudd, Executive Director

Keep reading for a related message from our friends at the National Trust for Historic Preservation...

October 21, 2025

Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service, and the Commission of Fine Arts regarding construction of the White House ballroom.

Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, issued the following statement to accompany the letter:

“Our mission is to protect America’s significant historic sites and to advocate for historic preservation as a core public value, and our congressional charter obligates us to facilitate public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings, and objects of national significance or interest.

We acknowledge the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House, but we are deeply concerned that the massing and height of the proposed new construction will overwhelm the White House itself—it is 55,000 square feet—and may also permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House with its two smaller, and lower, East and West Wings.

We respectfully urge the Administration and the National Park Service to pause demolition until plans for the proposed ballroom go through the legally required public review processes, including consultation and review by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, both of which have authority to review new construction at the White House, and to invite comments from the American people.

These processes provide an essential opportunity for transparency and public engagement—values that have guided preservation of the White House under every administration going back to the public competition in 1792 that produced the building’s original design. Doing so will help ensure that the project honors the exceptional historic significance of the White House and its grounds and acknowledges the investment that the American people have in the preservation of this beloved place.

The National Trust stands ready to assist the White House, the National Park Service, and relevant review agencies in exploring design alternatives and modifications that would accomplish the objectives of the Administration while preserving the historic integrity and symbolism of the People’s House.”