WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation designating the White House’s Oval Office and Cabinet Room as a national monument, in a move aimed at protecting the historic spaces from major alterations by future administrations.
The proclamation, signed on Thursday, November 5, 2026, directs the US Interior Department to develop a preservation plan and ensure that any substantial changes to the historic rooms undergo proper review.
Trump said the move would help prevent future presidents from demolishing or significantly changing the iconic office, which has served as the principal workplace of US presidents for nearly a century.
The designation also covers the Outer Oval Office. However, the proclamation allows the president to redecorate the rooms, change furnishings and make routine operational and security modifications.
The announcement comes amid Trump’s extensive renovations at the White House, including the addition of gold decorations to the Oval Office and the construction of a new ballroom following the demolition of the East Wing.
