Posted on December 12, 2025

The demolition of the White House East Wing was not just a construction decision. It was a warning.

That warning grew louder this week when the Washington Post reported that the  National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to halt construction of President Trump’s planned ballroom, arguing that the administration bypassed required reviews, ignored public input, and exceeded its authority. The lawsuit underscores what public health advocates, lawmakers, and preservation experts have been saying for months: this project moved forward in haste, secrecy, and disregard for long-standing safeguards.

As a mesothelioma widow and the co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), I have spent more than 20 years working to prevent precisely this kind of risk: where speed and power override safety, transparency, and accountability.

Early Warnings, No Answers

On October 23, 2025, ADAO sent a formal letter to the White House raising urgent concerns about asbestos risks associated with the East Wing demolition. That letter followed weeks of monitoring activity at the site and growing alarm about whether legally required asbestos inspections, notifications, and abatement procedures had been completed.

We asked for documentation. We asked for transparency.

We received no response.

In the absence of answers, ADAO filed multiple FOIA requests with federal agencies seeking records related to:

  • Asbestos inspection and testing reports
  • Abatement plans and permits
  • Contractor licensing and oversight
  • Environmental and air monitoring data
  • Worker protection protocols

To date, no publicly available records demonstrate that these statutory obligations were met.

I learned long ago: when the government does not respond, that silence speaks volumes.

What the Washington Post Confirmed

The Washington Post’s October 25 and October 30 investigations validated many of the concerns we raised. At the same time, ABC News reported on the unease surrounding potential corners being cut by contractors.

Their reporting documented:

  • Rapid demolition of a structure built and renovated during peak asbestos-use periods
  • Lack of publicly released asbestos inspection or abatement records
  • Questions about contractor licensing for asbestos abatement
  • Dust clouds, nighttime construction, and tourists gathering near the site
  • Senators and members of Congress demanding explanations and lawful transparency

Senator Edward Markey and other lawmakers were unequivocal: federal law requires comprehensive asbestos inspection, notification, and abatement before demolition. That requirement does not disappear because the building is the White House.

Asbestos Is Not Abstract

Asbestos is not theoretical. It is not political. And it is not safe.

There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibers are released into the air. Once inhaled, those fibers can remain in the body for decades before causing mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

Each year, approximately 40,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases.

Any demolition project, especially one at the White House, should meet the highest standard of safety, disclosure, and accountability. The White House should model best practices, not test the limits of secrecy.

When Satire Becomes Reality

There is also an unsettling cultural dimension to this moment.

For years, South Park episodes satirized chaos at the White House, portraying unchecked ego, spectacle, and destruction overtaking governance. What was once exaggerated satire now feels disturbingly familiar: bulldozers, dust plumes, declarations of unchecked authority, and experts sidelined.

Satire works by amplifying truth. But when reality begins to resemble parody, it signals something deeper: a breakdown of norms we once assumed were immovable.

What Comes Next

ADAO will continue to:

  • Press for full disclosure of all asbestos-related records
  • Track responses to our FOIA requests
  • Support congressional oversight and lawful transparency
  • Advocate for prevention-first policies grounded in science

Prevention only works when it is practiced, not when it is promised.

The White House should symbolize leadership, safety, and accountability. When it does not, it is the responsibility of advocates, journalists, scientists, and the public to speak up.

Because Democracy does not only die in darkness.

Sometimes, it is buried in dust.

In unity,

Linda Reinstein