A FIVE-STAR FOLLY - An Investigation into the Cost Increases, Construction Delays, and Design Problems That Have Been a Disservice to the Effort to Memorialize Dwight D. Eisenhower - Majority Staff Report

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Levi

Majority staff report examines the activities of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission and the process used to select a proposed memorial design. It analyzes repeated failures of the winning proposal to meet legal requirements, the resulting unanticipated costs and delays, and the Commission’s oversight and contract practices. Findings highlight continued shortcomings against established design principles, high spending without construction approvals, sole-source contracting, and decision-making that deviated from standard design-excellence procedures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages58

Reading Time2 h 26 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Oversight findings

Introduction

A Tribute to Dwight D. Eisenhower

Establishment of an Eisenhower Memorial

Summary of Oversight Findings

Longstanding Controversy Surrounding the Design Selection

Overview of Eisenhower Memorial Contracts

Plethora of Other Contracts and Management Support Expenses

More Sole Source Selections

Expensive Design Heightens Need for Fundraising

Ongoing Controversy and Uncertainty about Tapestry Design

Costs for Upkeep of Metal Tapestries Also Unclear

Conclusion

Viability of Memorial Design Remains in Question

Current Design Still Does Not Satisfy Legal Requirements

Costly Exercise and Still no Worthy Tribute

Appendix

Appropriated Monies

Gehry Contract and Modifications

Gilbane Contract and Modifications

A FIVE-STAR FOLLY: An Investigation into the Cost Increases, Construction Delays, and Design Problems That Have Been a Disservice to the Effort to Memorialize Dwight D. Eisenhower July 25, 2014 Majority Staff Report Committee on Natural Resources Office of Oversight and Investigations Chairman Doc Hastings U.S. House of Representatives 113th Congress [http://naturalresources.house.gov](http://naturalresources.house.gov) This report has not been officially adopted by the Committee on Natural Resources and may not necessarily reflect the views of its Members. Table of Contents Executive Summary.............................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 A Tribute to Dwight D. Eisenhower .......................................................................................................... 2 Establishment of an Eisenhower Memorial ........................................................................................... 3 Summary of Oversight Findings ................................................................................................................... 11 Longstanding Controversy Surrounding the Design Selection ................................................... 11 Overview of Eisenhower Memorial Contracts ................................................................................... 20 Plethora of Other Contracts and Management Support Expenses............................................. 22 More Sole Source Selections ..................................................................................................................... 26 Expensive Design Heightens Need for Fundraising......................................................................... 28 Ongoing Controversy and Uncertainty about Tapestry Design .................................................. 37 Costs for Upkeep of Metal Tapestries Also Unclear ......................................................................... 41 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................. 48 Viability of Memorial Design Remains in Question.......................................................................... 48 Current Design Still Does Not Satisfy Legal Requirements........................................................... 51 Costly Exercise and Still no Worthy Tribute....................................................................................... 52 Appendix A: Appropriated Monies.............................................................................................................. 54 Appendix B: Gehry Contract and Modifications ..................................................................................... 55 Appendix C: Gilbane Contract and Modifications .................................................................................. 56 Executive Summary This staff report by the Committee on Natural Resources’Majority staff’s Office of Oversight and Investigations has examined the activities of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, the unprecedented process used to select the proposed memorial’s design, the winning design’s repeated failure to satisfy all legal requirements, and the unanticipated costs and delays due to controversial elements of the selected design, among other topics. While there is no question President and General Eisenhower is worthy of a memorial honoring his tremendous accomplishments, our oversight has identified significant questions that undermine the viability of the current design and the Memorial Commission’s ability to see a memorial to completion. The Ma

FAQs

What subject does the report investigate?

The report investigates the Eisenhower Memorial Commission’s activities, the design selection process, the failure to satisfy legal requirements, and the resulting costs and delays tied to controversial elements of the selected design.

What key findings undermine the viability of the current memorial design?

The design is still short of required design principles and legal requirements, has not received approvals needed to begin construction, and the report identifies ongoing problems identified earlier by the design jury.

How does the report characterize contract and management practices?

It describes sole-source selections for support services without open competition and notes that many contracts were modified multiple times, reflecting millions of dollars in additional costs.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Levi