ADAO’s FOIA legal action follows after more than two months of unanswered FOIA requests and formal letters seeking documentation that federal law requires to be made public when older buildings, particularly historic structures likely to contain legacy asbestos, are demolished. The absence of these records raises serious concerns about worker safety, public health protections, and government transparency.
What ADAO Is Seeking, and Why
ADAO’s lawsuit names the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Labor, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Executive Office of the President as defendants. Each agency failed to respond to FOIA requests seeking records that must be disclosed under federal law.
At issue are documents that would demonstrate whether legally required safeguards were followed before and during demolition, including:
Pre-demolition asbestos inspection reports
Abatement plans, notifications, and certifications
Air-monitoring results, waste-handling manifests, and contractor safety plans
Inter-agency communications related to compliance regarding safety procedures and testing for asbestos
The East Wing, an older structure renovated in the 1940s and 1950s when asbestos was widely used in construction, was likely to contain asbestos-containing materials. Federal agencies and public-health authorities have long warned that disturbing asbestos-containing materials during demolition can pose serious risks to workers, bystanders, and nearby residents if not properly managed and documented.
Transparency Without Evidence is Empty
A White House official has stated that “any hazardous material abatement was completed in September,” prior to the October demolition. However, despite repeated requests, no records have been produced to substantiate that claim.
Under EPA regulations, any demolition or renovation of an institutional, commercial, or industrial building is governed by the Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). Compliance is not optional, nor is documentation.
“Asbestos is a known carcinogen responsible for more than one million deaths from lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-caused diseases over the past two decades alone,” said Linda Reinstein, President and CEO of ADAO. “Robust, documented safeguards are essential to prevent exposure and protect public health.”
“The White House should set the national standard for compliance with environmental and worker-safety laws governing asbestos. It must be transparent with the public about the protections implemented during the demolition of one of America’s most historic public buildings.”
ADAO has asked straightforward questions that the public deserves answers to: Was asbestos found in the East Wing? If so, how was it removed? How were workers, White House staff, visitors, and passersby protected? Was demolition debris tested, tracked, and disposed of safely?
Why FOIA Exists
The FOIA was enacted to ensure an informed citizenry regarding government actions, especially when those actions involve health and safety.
“Agencies must do more than make claims about their compliance with health and safety requirements,” said Bob Sussman, former senior EPA official and nationally recognized environmental law expert representing ADAO. “They must disclose and document the actions they are taking to follow the law and provide that documentation to the American people.”
Except for a single response from the General Services Administration stating it had no responsive records, agencies failed to meet statutory FOIA deadlines or produce documents.
Legal Action
ADAO’s lawsuit seeks a court order compelling the release of all non-exempt records related to asbestos inspection, abatement, and disposal during the East Wing demolition.
This case is not about politics. It is about prevention, accountability, and establishing a precedent that applies to all demolitions, public and private.
“Prevention is the only way to eliminate asbestos-caused diseases,” Reinstein said. “When a high-profile demolition of a historic structure likely containing asbestos takes place, the public needs and deserves transparency about the precautions taken to protect public health.”
Timeline: East Wing Demolition and ADAO’s Actions
July–September 2025: Project Announced
July 31, 2025: The White House announces plans for a new “White House State Ballroom,” stating it will replace the existing East Wing and that the project will begin in September.
August 21, 2025: Public tours are suspended effective September 1 due to construction near the East Wing tour route.
Early September 2025: White House tours cease; site preparation begins.
September 9 onward: Trees and foliage are removed from the East Wing grounds in preparation for demolition.
October 2025: Demolition Begins
Early October: Site preparation continues on the South Grounds.
October 20–21: Heavy equipment begins demolishing the East Wing façade and structure.
The White House should model best practices, not minimum compliance, when it comes to protecting workers and the public from asbestos exposure. Transparency is not optional. Documentation is not discretionary. Prevention only works when it is practiced.
ADAO will continue to pursue the facts, defend public-health safeguards, and insist that the same rules apply to everyone, even at the most powerful address in America.
Geri Manalo2026-01-16T16:20:20-08:00January 16th, 2026|
