Trump wants to coat this historic D.C. landmark in white paint, alarming preservationists

"Josh Fisher, a White House official, in April told the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts - a separate federal agency that also must approve the proposal - that the Trump administration prefers painting the entire building because the exterior is stained and in "great disrepair." Fisher said in April that experts consulted by the government could not guarantee that an exterior cleaning would improve the condition of the building."

"The proposal has alarmed preservationists, architects, historians and others who argue that granite is not meant to be painted and that paint would trap moisture, deteriorate the stone and not solve problems the administration wants to fix. There's also scant public support for the paint job."

President Trump has proposed painting the exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white as part of a broader initiative to enhance Washington's appearance. The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to review the proposal, which involves covering the building's gray granite exterior with white paint. Trump administration officials argue the granite is stained and in poor condition, presenting both a full painting option and an alternative that would paint most of the building while preserving the granite base. However, preservationists, architects, and historians oppose the plan, contending that painting granite causes moisture trapping, stone deterioration, and fails to address underlying structural issues. Public comment has been largely unsupportive of the proposal.

Read at Fast Company