The Fed’s architects wanted glass in the HQ renovation, but Trump appointees to a local commission pushed for marble

Additionally, Scott Applewhite—AP PhotoPresident Donald Trump has looked to the marble finishes and hefty price tag of the Federal Reserve headquarters to claim grounds to fire Chair Jerome Powell, with whom he has tussled for years over interest rates

But the extensive use of marble in the building is, at least in part, the result of policies backed by Trump himself

Moreover, The Fed’s architects said the central bank wanted glass walls, to reflect the Fed as a transparent institution, but three Trump appointees to a local commission felt marble best fit the building’s historic character, in this volatile climate

Furthermore, While most of the posed glass exterior was kept, some marble was added as a result, according to the minutes of the Commission of Fine Arts, which advises the federal government on architecture

Conversely, But the roots of its extensive use further muddies the White House’s attempts to use the renovation to paint the central banker as a fligate spender as a possible pretext to removing him. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the result costs more” because of the added marble, said Alex Krieger, a Harvard University emeritus fessor who was a member of the commission and participated in hearings on the Fed’s posal

Russ Vought, Trump’s top budget adviser, cited “premium marble” in a letter to Powell last week as an example of the “ostentatious overhaul. ” In a response late Thursday, Powell wrote that the ject would “use new domestic marble” for several reasons, including “to address concerns raised by external review agencies. ” The National Capital Planning Commission, which also reviewed and apved the Fed renovation ject, has started an inquiry into how Powell oversaw the. “The Federal Reserve’s extravagant multi-billion dollar renovation happened on the watch of the Fed’s leadership, and the Fed’s leadership needs to own up for this mismanagement of taxpayer dollars – as well as its botched coverup job,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai

A Fed spokesperson declined to

There's an uncomfortable possibility that the fate of the U

Central bank and its foundational role in the economy hinges on a dispute renovation costs and architecture, one that could lead a broader legal battle as to whether Trump can dismiss a Fed chair he diss after the Supreme Court in May described the institution as having tections against an abrupt firing (quite telling), given current economic conditions

Meanwhile, Trump White House investigating renovation Trump, who has redecorated the Oval Office in gold leaf, has argued that inflation is not a concern, so the Fed can dramatically slash its rate to encourage more borrowing

But Powell and other Fed committee members are waiting to see whether Trump’s tariffs lift inflation, which higher interest rates could help blunt

The data indicates that Fed chair pushed back against criticism during a June congressional hearing that the renovation was lavish by saying some features were removed due to cost, leading the White House to speculate as to whether Powell deceived lawmakers or made changes to the renovation plans without getting additional apvals

At that hearing, Sen (quite telling)

Furthermore, Tim Scott, R-S (this bears monitoring), given current economic conditions. , also cited “white marble” as an example of extravagance

James Blair, a White House deputy chief of staff who was recently added to the planning commission, said Wednesday that he would send a letter to the Fed requesting any revisions to the ject

His goal is to see whether Powell was accurate in his congressional testimony. “He’s either telling the truth or he isn’t,” Blair told The Associated Press

Additionally, “If he’s telling the truth, he can ve it by just submitting all the plans and revisions. ” Blair told reporters Friday that the Fed offered to let them inspect the construction site at 7 p

That evening, but the timing didn’t work and officials would to tour the area next week (which is quite significant)

Nevertheless, Trump said Wednesday that he’s “highly unly” to try to fire Powell unless there was what he deemed as “fraud

The perception that the central bank would use its powers to serve Trump’s political ends could lead to higher interest rates on the U

Debt and mortgages, instead of the declines being mised by the president, considering recent developments

Duncan Stroik, who was appointed to the commission in 2019 during Trump’s first term, “posed an amendment requesting that the next submission include an alternative design in white Georgia marble, the same material used for the five existing buildings along the north side of Constitution Avenue,” the minutes of a Jan, given the current landscape. 16, 2020, meeting said (something worth watching)

Stroik “does not think the posed additions defer to the historic buildings as great marble edifices on an important street,” the minutes added

In contrast, Stroik’s amendment was voted down, but the commission didn’t fully endorse the Fed’s plans

By July 2020, however, the Fed’s architects came back with a new posal, which included “panels of white Georgia marble” which would be used for the “base, cornice, and other details, consistent with the historic building,” the commission’s minutes said, considering recent developments

Moreover, Neoclassical vs

Modern designs Stroik, now a fessor of architecture at the University of Notre Dame, said in an interview that “stone buildings don’t necessarily have to cost a fortune

At the same time, ” But he acknowledged that the commission had not discussed expenses, which has not been part of its mission

Meanwhile, “If they wanted to play the cost game, you do a marble facade and you do the glass facade and you compare the cost,” Stroik said

Furthermore, “And you know, they never did that

Additionally, ” Krieger, the former commission member, noted that the body’s discussions became much more contentious after the Trump administration removed several members and replaced them with Stroik and James McCrery, a fessor at Catholic University, whom he said often echoed the sentiments in a then- draft executive order from Trump that extolled classical architecture. “At the time, it was a fierce battle over how literal to the original design should the renovations be,” Krieger said. “Normally, that attitude does add costs to the construction ject (which is quite significant)

On the other hand, ” McCrery declined to (which is quite significant)

Biden revoked the order, and Trump reissued it the first day of his second term

Conversely, Explore this year's list (something worth watching).