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MemoMemorandumTrump 47 · R

Presidential Memorandum

Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture

This memorandum directs the GSA Administrator to submit within 60 days recommendations for revising federal architecture policy to favor traditional and classical styles that make civic buildings visually identifiable. It also requires advance presidential notification if the Administrator proposes approving a non-conforming design before those recommendations are submitted.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8485

Impact dates

  1. Recommendations due to President on advancing traditional/classical federal architecture policy

  2. Minimum advance notification to President before approving non-conforming design

Key directives

  • Submit recommendations within 60 days to advance policy that federal public buildings should be visually identifiable as civic buildings and respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage
  • Consult with Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and agency heads as necessary
  • Recommendations shall consider revisions to Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture
  • Recommendations shall consider procedures for incorporating community input into design selections
  • Notify President through Domestic Policy Assistant at least 30 days before GSA would incur substantial expenditures if rejecting a non-conforming design

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • GSA Administrator directed to begin consultation process
  • hold placed on non-conforming designs pending notification requirement

Near term (90d)

  • Recommendations due to President (within 60 days)
  • Potential revisions to Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture

Long term

  • Possible enduring changes to federal building design standards
  • Implementation of revised procedures for community input in design selection

Risks & tensions

  • Creates procedural friction for modernist/contemporary federal building designs
  • Potential tension with existing GSA design review processes and ongoing projects
  • Vague standard: 'substantial expenditures' threshold for notification trigger is undefined
  • Centralizes presidential oversight over individual building designs, unusual for this level of detail
Presidential Memorandum: Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture · Executive Orders