Thirteen members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have sent a letter to architect James McCrery raising serious ethical concerns about his involvement in the demolition of the White House East Wing and the proposed construction of a new ballroom. The November 21 letter, led by Samuel Combs, an Anchorage-based architect and member of the AIA Historic Resources Committee, questions whether McCrery violated the AIA's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in his work on President Trump's White House renovation project.
The White House East Wing was completely demolished as of October 23, 2025, as part of President Donald Trump's plan to build a new ballroom on the eastern side of the historic building. Twelve of the thirteen letter signatories requested to remain anonymous, identifying themselves collectively as members of the American Historic Preservation Community. The letter was sent as a courtesy to McCrery before potentially filing formal ethics complaints with the National AIA.
As an AIA member, McCrery is subject to the organization's rules and could face serious consequences if found to have violated the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. According to the AIA's 2024 Rules of Application, Enforcement, and Amendment, potential penalties include admonition, censure, suspension, or termination of AIA membership. The AIA confirmed it is aware of the letter but emphasized that it was sent independently of the organization or its Historic Resources Committee.
The letter poses five critical questions to McCrery regarding the project's compliance with established procedures and regulations. The signatories question whether proper demolition permits were obtained and if McCrery advised the President to follow appropriate approval channels for both demolition and new construction. They also inquire about environmental law compliance, specifically whether hazardous materials were properly abated in September as claimed by the White House.
Additionally, the letter seeks McCrery's knowledge and opinion about President Trump's decision to fire nearly all members of the National Capital Planning Commission, which would normally oversee such modifications to what they call "the People's House." The signatories also question the firing of all U.S. Commission of Fine Arts members, including well-respected Chair Billie Tsien, AIA, known for her distinguished designs. All these positions currently remain vacant, and Trump plans to replace them with his handpicked commissioners.
The letter directly asks whether McCrery gave direction to demolish the East Wing and, if so, when he made that recommendation and why normal approval processes were bypassed without notifying the American public. The signatories believe McCrery may have violated multiple AIA rules, specifically citing violations of General Obligation and Obligations to the Public and Client rules, including Rules 1.101, 1.402, 2.101, 2.105, 2.106, 2.401, 3.101, 3.102, and 3.201.
The letter emphasizes that the concerns are not personally motivated against McCrery, stating, "We want to make it perfectly clear that we harbor no ill will towards you personally." Instead, the signatories hope their effort will slow down further destruction of the White House, result in better outcomes for the proposed addition, and deter similar "renegade efforts" affecting the nation's legacy without appropriate oversight. They warn that the AIA's reputation and integrity are at stake and that further harm to "the nation's most symbolic residence needs to be stopped."
Samuel Combs revealed that he is coordinating with several preservation organizations, including the National Trust, the Society of Architectural Historians, and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. However, he faced resistance from AIA leadership, including Corey Clayborne, FAIA, Senior Vice President of Knowledge and Practice, and Alexander Cochran, Chief Advocacy Officer, who discouraged him from sending the letter.
According to Combs, the AIA leadership argued that the organization is working with Democratic members of Congress to introduce protective legislation for the White House after the New Year. They reportedly told Combs that confronting McCrery would damage all architects and that news media would perceive it as "architects attacking architects." Combs criticized this approach as "tepid" and argued that the legislative process would be too slow given the urgency of the situation and likely Republican opposition in Congress.
In a post on the AIA Historic Resources Forum, Combs expressed frustration with the AIA's strategy, noting that given the current composition of the Senate and House of Representatives, such legislation might take years to pass. He warned that by then, "the current president could have torn down the West Wing and/or even the original White House." Despite multiple attempts to contact McCrery for comment, he has not responded to inquiries about the allegations.
