Reports from the General Services Administration or architectural reviews of new federal buildings

Trump Reinstates Order on January 20, 2025, to Promote Classical Architecture in Federal Buildings

Jan 21, 2025, 02:11 AM

President Donald Trump has reinstated an executive order aimed at promoting classical architecture in federal buildings. The order, signed on January 20, 2025, directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to submit recommendations within 60 days to ensure that federal public buildings are visually identifiable as civic structures and respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage. The directive seeks to uplift and beautify public spaces, ennoble the United States, and reflect the nation's system of self-government. The move is seen as an effort to move away from the 'brutalism' style of architecture, which has been criticized for its intimidating and utilitarian design. If a proposed design for a new federal building diverges from this policy, the Administrator must notify the President 30 days before any potential rejection to avoid substantial expenditures.