By
Arden Farhi
Washington bureau managing editor
Arden Farhi is the managing editor for CBS News’ Washington bureau. He has covered several presidential campaigns and the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. His executive producer credits include “The Takeout with Major Garrett” and the CBS News original podcast “Agent of Betrayal,” and his work has been recognized with two Emmy Awards, a DuPont Award and a NY Festivals gold medal.
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President Trump has submitted plans plans to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white to a group that advises on architecture in Washington, D.C.
The French Second Empire-style, slate-gray building houses office space for members of the president’s team, including the National Security Council.
An America 250 flag outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Daniel Heuer / Bloomberg via Getty Images 
The building sits across a driveway from the West Wing and was completed in 1888. The plans submitted by the president say that the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is an eyesore that has long been criticized and has fallen into disrepair since its completion. The plans say “the color, design, and massing of the existing structure does not align visually with the surrounding architecture and lacks any symbolic cohesion with the White House.” The plan points to examples of cracks and poor exterior maintenance and argues, “The benefit to painting the stone is that it is repeatable.”
“The inability to bring the stone facade back to a baseline color has plagued the maintenance of the [Executive Office Building] in the past, and and will continue to plague it if not addressed,” the plan says.
The plans included renderings of what the building would look like if it’s painted white.
Rendering from President Trump’s plans showing what the Executive Office Building would look like if it were painted white.
Rendering showing President Trump’s proposal showing White House West Wing and Eisenhower Executive Office Building if its gray stone facade were painted white.
The Executive Office of the President submitted a design proposal to the Commission of Fine Arts, a panel of Trump appointees who advise on public architecture and design in the nation’s capital.
The CFA will hear a presentation on the plan on April 16.
