Preservation Puts the Cart Before the Horse at the White House

The lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to halt construction on the new East Wing ballroom is a bizarre display of preservationist zeal gone completely awry. The fundamental flaw in this legal challenge is its timing: the demolition has already taken its course.

We are looking at a situation where the historical structure has been razed, and now, after the most invasive and irreversible part of the project is complete, a group is suing to stop the rebuilding. This isn't preservation; it’s an exercise in monumental financial waste.

Taxpayer funds have already been spent tearing down the old structure and commencing the new work. To push for a suspension now—after the dust has settled on the demolition—is simply crazy. It would leave the East Wing a construction graveyard, forcing the administration to potentially spend millions more on site stabilization or future restart costs, or face a complete write-off. Arguing about "appropriate reviews" after the building is gone is like locking the barn door after the horse has bolted. This legal maneuver is not only too late but also an irresponsible drain on the public purse.

Ryan S Taylor