Embarrassing Flaws Emerge in Trump’s New White House Design – The Daily Beast

Report on the White House East Wing Redevelopment Project and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

This report details the ongoing redevelopment of the White House East Wing, which involves the demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The project has raised significant concerns regarding its alignment with international commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of cultural heritage preservation, institutional governance, and sustainable infrastructure.

2.0 Project Overview and Planning Deficiencies

The proposed addition has been characterized by a reportedly hurried planning process and a lack of clarity on key project metrics.

• Scale and Cost: The project is estimated to cost $300 million and will more than double the size of the existing White House structure, with completion scheduled for 2029.
• Capacity: Official estimates for the new ballroom’s guest capacity have been inconsistent, ranging from 650 to 1,350 persons.
• Architectural Integrity: A preliminary model unveiled to the press exhibited significant design flaws, including:
  1. A staircase terminating directly into a solid wall.
  2. Misaligned windows that appear to open into one another.

3.0 Non-Compliance with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The project’s execution directly contravenes the principles of SDG 11, which emphasizes the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

3.1 Failure to Uphold Target 11.4

Target 11.4 calls for strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural heritage. The demolition of a significant portion of the White House, a globally recognized historic site, represents a severe departure from this goal. Critics have highlighted the irreversible loss of cultural heritage, with the scale of destruction being visible from satellite imagery.

• Archaeologist Matthew Vincent compared the act to the desecration of historic sites, stating the building belongs to the American people and is not personal property.
• Former White House Historical Society chief historian Edward Lengel expressed concern that the expansion transforms a democratic symbol into a “presidential palace,” contradicting its foundational concept.

4.0 Undermining SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The project’s management has demonstrated a lack of adherence to established governance protocols, undermining SDG 16, which promotes effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

4.1 Breach of Institutional Accountability and Transparency

The administration has reportedly failed to follow standard procedures for renovations on federal grounds, raising questions about institutional integrity.

• Bypassed Oversight: The project did not undergo the usual review process from key federal bodies, including the National Capital Planning Commission. This circumvention of oversight is inconsistent with SDG Target 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions).
• Lack of Public Disclosure: A lack of transparency regarding building plans and structural integrity assessments has been noted. Furthermore, an order was issued to federal workers to prevent photographic documentation of the construction, inhibiting public accountability.

5.0 Contradiction of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The decision to demolish and rebuild, rather than renovate or repurpose, conflicts with the principles of sustainable resource management outlined in SDG 12.

5.1 Unsustainable Construction Practices

The project reflects a model of development that is resource-intensive and generates significant waste, contrary to the goals of responsible consumption and production.

• The demolition of the existing East Wing, including the East Colonnade and the White House Family Theatre, represents a significant loss of embodied carbon and materials.
• The large-scale new construction requires substantial resource extraction and consumption, failing to prioritize sustainable building practices that emphasize retrofitting and preservation to achieve modernization.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is relevant because the article focuses on the demolition and controversial reconstruction of the White House, a site of significant cultural and historical importance. The core issue is the treatment of a major piece of cultural heritage, which falls directly under the purview of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is addressed through the article’s emphasis on the failure of governmental process and oversight. The text highlights a lack of transparency, accountability, and public participation in the decision-making process for a major public project, which relates to the development of effective and accountable institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

   The article directly relates to this target by describing the destruction of a historic site. Phrases like “cranes and backhoes were seen tearing down sections of exterior cladding and ripping windows off their hinges at one of the most instantly recognizable historic sites on the planet” and the comparison of the act to “ISIS’s desecration of historic sites” clearly frame the issue as a failure to protect and safeguard cultural heritage.

2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

   The article points to a breakdown in institutional accountability and transparency. It states, “Trump has indeed failed to follow established procedure for renovations on White House grounds, bypassing the usual reviews from federal groups like the National Capital Planning Commission.” This, combined with the project being “done without any oversight or acknowledgment from the bodies that should oversee this,” demonstrates a direct connection to the need for accountable and transparent institutions.

3. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels

   The decision-making process described in the article is portrayed as non-participatory and unresponsive to public sentiment. The “fierce outcry” and criticism that the project was undertaken without consulting “the American people” highlight a failure to engage in inclusive decision-making. The quote, “The White House doesn’t belong to Donald Trump—it’s a federal building, a taxpayer building, belonging to the American people,” underscores the lack of a representative process.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.4

  While Indicator 11.4.1 measures expenditure on preservation, the article provides a counter-indicator: the significant expenditure (“$300 million”) on a project that involves the *destruction* rather than the preservation of a cultural heritage site. The “scale of destruction now even visible from space” serves as a qualitative indicator of the negative impact on cultural heritage.

• Implied Indicators for Targets 16.6 and 16.7

  The article does not cite quantitative data but provides strong qualitative indicators related to institutional performance and public perception.

  • The documented bypassing of oversight bodies (“National Capital Planning Commission”) is a direct indicator of a lack of institutional accountability (Target 16.6).
  • The widespread “backlash,” “fierce outcry,” and negative commentary from critics, historians, and archaeologists serve as a proxy indicator for public dissatisfaction and the perception that the decision-making process was not inclusive or responsive (Target 16.7).
  • The order for federal workers to “refrain from taking and sharing photographs” is an indicator of a lack of transparency (Target 16.6).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thedailybeast.com