Jan 21, 2025 - Politics

Trump reissues demand for classical federal architecture

Mimi Montgomery

The exterior of an office building in Washington, D.C., with a sign in front of it that reads "GSA Headquarters Building." — The exterior of the GSA building in D.C. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

President Trump wants to make federal buildings adhere to traditional design styles — reigniting his beef with D.C.'s architecture.

Why it matters: This comes as Trump has mandated that government employees return to the office full time, and as the General Services Administration (GSA), aka the government's landlord, has been trying to upgrade its real estate by offloading unused and aging government office space.

The big picture: It's also not the first time Trump has taken on D.C. architecture: In 2020, he issued an executive order declaring neo-classical design as the de facto style for new federal buildings in the city.

Former President Biden later revoked the order.

State of play: Trump on Monday issued an executive order that declares federal buildings should "respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage" to "beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States."

The memorandum, titled "Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture," directs the GSA to come up with recommendations within 60 days to achieve that vision.
Revisions to the guidelines for federal architecture will be considered, says the order, as will ways to integrate community feedback into design plans.

Context: Trump has also previously taken issue with the GSA, which released emails during the special counsel investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that President Trump's 2020 executive order made neo-classical design the de facto style for new federal buildings in D.C.

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