Press ReleaseUrgent2026-06-26

Beyer, Raskin, Norton, Ivey Demand Trump Administration Remove Demolished East Wing’s Toxic Debris from East Potomac National Park

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This press release from Representative Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA) was published on 2026-06-26 and titled "Beyer, Raskin, Norton, Ivey Demand Trump Administration Remove Demolished East Wing’s Toxic Debris from East Potomac Nat".

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Beyer, Raskin, Norton, Ivey Demand Trump Administration Remove Demolished East Wing’s Toxic Debris from East Potomac National Park

Today, Representatives Don Beyer (VA-08), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) demanded the Trump Administration take immediate steps to safely remove over 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris that the president recklessly deposited onto the East Potomac National Park. The poisonous pile-up contains the remains of the illegally demolished White House East Wing. “For nearly eight months, golfers, cyclists, runners, fishermen and members of the public have been exposed to such debris, which contains dangerous levels of arsenic, lead and mercury,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “ Even more troubling is your failure to release reliable test results on the potential asbestos content that may be mixed in with the demolition materials of the East Wing.” In October, President Trump illegally demolished the White House’s East Wing to make way for his $600 million ballroom , partially financed by taxpayers. Soon after, Secretary Burgum carelessly advised President Trump to deposit its over 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris onto the public golf course on East Potomac National Park. The East Potomac Golf Links is part of East Potomac Park, which lies on federal land in Washington, D.C. The park provides recreational space for thousands of people who live in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The golf course is on a peninsula surrounded by the Potomac River, an important tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. The White House waited six months after dumping the toxic debris on the golf course to release test results showing the pile contained elevated levels of lead, arsenic and mercury. “The White House... knew there would be a high likelihood of toxins in the East Wing debris and still chose to dump them in a public place, creating massive exposure for both adults and children,” the lawmakers continued. The East Wing was constructed in 1902, when lead paint was a commonly used material. In addition, any building built or remodeled before 1980 likely contains asbestos, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In their letter, the lawmakers demanded the administration develop a plan to immediately and safely remove the toxic debris and remediate the surrounding land on East Potomac Golf Links. They also called on the administration to warn the public about any health risks from toxic exposure and share documentation regarding how this irresponsible decision was made. In addition to Beyer, Raskin, Norton, and Ivey, the letter was also signed by Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), André Carson (IN-07), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Shomari Figures (AL-02), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Darren Soto (FL-09), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Wesley Bell (MO-01) and Seth Magaziner (RI-02). Read the full text of the letter here and below: The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Secretary Burgum: We demand that you immediately and safely remove over 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris left over from the demolition of the former East Wing of the White House that you deposited on the East Potomac Golf Course. For nearly eight months, golfers, cyclists, runners, fishermen and members of the public have been exposed to such debris, which contains dangerous levels of arsenic, lead and mercury. Even more troubling is your failure to release reliable test results on the potential asbestos content that may be mixed in with the demolition materials of the East Wing. These contaminants are embedded in debris piles just feet away from the banks of the Potomac River, an important tributary of the Chesapeake Bay where people fish and row. In October 2025, President Trump’s illegal and unannounced demolition of the East Wing of the White House presented a novel and dangerous challenge. You propo

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Beyer, Raskin, Norton, Ivey Demand Trump Administration Remove Demolished East Wing’s Toxic Debris from East Potomac National Park Today, Representatives Don Beyer (VA-08), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) demanded the Trump Administration take immediate steps to safely remove over 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris that the president recklessly deposited onto the East Potomac National Park. The poisonous pile-up contains the remains of the illegally demolished White House East Wing. “For nearly eight months, golfers, cyclists, runners, fishermen and members of the public have been exposed to such debris, which contains dangerous levels of arsenic, lead and mercury,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “ Even more troubling is your failure to release reliable test results on the potential asbestos content that may be mixed in with the demolition materials of the East Wing.” In October, President Trump illegally demolished the White House’s East Wing to make way for his $600 million ballroom , partially financed by taxpayers. Soon after, Secretary Burgum carelessly advised President Trump to deposit its over 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris onto the public golf course on East Potomac National Park. The East Potomac Golf Links is part of East Potomac Park, which lies on federal land in Washington, D.C. The park provides recreational space for thousands of people who live in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The golf course is on a peninsula surrounded by the Potomac River, an important tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. The White House waited six months after dumping the toxic debris on the golf course to release test results showing the pile contained elevated levels of lead, arsenic and mercury. “The White House... knew there would be a high likelihood of toxins in the East Wing debris and still chose to dump them in a public place, creating massive exposure for both adults and children,” the lawmakers continued. The East Wing was constructed in 1902, when lead paint was a commonly used material. In addition, any building built or remodeled before 1980 likely contains asbestos, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In their letter, the lawmakers demanded the administration develop a plan to immediately and safely remove the toxic debris and remediate the surrounding land on East Potomac Golf Links. They also called on the administration to warn the public about any health risks from toxic exposure and share documentation regarding how this irresponsible decision was made. In addition to Beyer, Raskin, Norton, and Ivey, the letter was also signed by Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), André Carson (IN-07), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Shomari Figures (AL-02), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Darren Soto (FL-09), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Wesley Bell (MO-01) and Seth Magaziner (RI-02). Read the full text of the letter here and below: The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Secretary Burgum: We demand that you immediately and safely remove over 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris left over from the demolition of the former East Wing of the White House that you deposited on the East Potomac Golf Course. For nearly eight months, golfers, cyclists, runners, fishermen and members of the public have been exposed to such debris, which contains dangerous levels of arsenic, lead and mercury. Even more troubling is your failure to release reliable test results on the potential asbestos content that may be mixed in with the demolition materials of the East Wing. These contaminants are embedded in debris piles just feet away from the banks of the Potomac River, an important tributary of the Chesapeake Bay where people fish and row. In October 2025, President Trump’s illegal and unannounced demolition of the East Wing of the White House presented a novel and dangerous challenge. You propo