At the time of construction segregation was still the law of the land in Virginia. Construction engineers were directed to build the building in compliance with state segregation laws requiring separate washroom facilities.
Although federal buildings are exempt from state and local law, the military went along with this state law.
Even though the extra bathrooms were built, President Roosevelt had issued an executive order 8802 the previous June (which forbade any kind of discrimination against government workers) no “colored” or “white” signs were ever put on the doors.
The Pentagon for a long time was the only building in Virginia where segregation was not allowed.
To this day there are four large washrooms on each of the main hallways leading from the outer ring of the building to the inner—two for men, and two for women.
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