Letter Text (PDF)

Washington (October 30, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security and a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today wrote to Michael D. Citren, Chairman, and Stephen D. Smith, President of ACECO LLC, the contractor handling the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, questioning whether ACECO followed federal health and safety standards during the demolition, or if it placed its own workers and the public at risk of exposure to asbestos and other hazardous materials.

In the letter, Senator Markey writes, “Damaged asbestos fibers are one of the most hazardous substances that can arise from construction demolition. Unless their presence is disclosed, individuals have no way of knowing that the air may contain tiny, tasteless and odorless fibers that cause no noticeable irritation but can be deadly. Construction workers on the East Wing site, nearby office workers and tourists, and passersby could now be at heightened risk of developing lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma from the inhalation of demolition dust.”

Senator Markey continues, “ACECO’s work falls squarely within a network of federal regulations governing demolition, hazardous-material handling, and worker protection. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) asbestos standard requires that employers identify, monitor, and control asbestos exposure in demolition work. And the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rules require inspection, advance notice, and approved abatement or containment procedures before demolition of a structure containing asbestos.”

Senator Markey requests answers to the following questions by November 12, 2025:

  1. When and under what authority did ACECO begin demolition work at the East Wing? What was the scope of the work? Please provide any contracts or other agreements covering the work.
  2. Was a full hazardous-materials survey, including asbestos and lead, conducted prior to demolition? If so, provide the surveyor’s name, date of inspection and sampling, testing reports, and findings. If not, why not?
  3. If asbestos was found at the East Wing site, was an abatement or containment plan implemented, including worker protection and emission controls? If so, please provide the plan and any chain-of-custody records. If not, why not?
  4. Did ACECO file the required NESHAP notifications with EPA Region III? If so, please provide the documentation? If not, why not?
  5. How were workers on the East Wing demolition site trained and equipped to prevent asbestos exposure? Please include copies of any contracts, safety plans, and worker training records for your company or any subcontractors performing demolition, abatement, or disposal activities.
  6. Was monitoring or air-sampling at the East Wing demolition site performed? If so, please identify specific sampling locations and sampling times, as well as any results. If not, why not?
  7. What permits did ACECO obtain for this work, and from which authorities? Please provide any East Wing job-site permits.
  8. Describe how demolition debris and any hazardous waste have been handled, transported, and disposed of, and identify the receiving facilities. Please include any manifests, transport records, and disposal certificates for asbestos-containing material, lead paint waste, or other hazardous debris.
  9. Were measures taken to prevent dust or airborne contaminants from reaching surrounding areas of the White House complex? If so, please identify them. If not, why not?
  10. Were any deviations or incidents reported during demolition, and if so, what corrective action was taken?

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