Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture

This executive order establishes a preference for classical and traditional architecture in new federal buildings, particularly in Washington, D.C., where classical architecture is designated as the default style. It creates a temporary President's Council to recommend updates to GSA policies and requires presidential notification for approval of modernist designs like Brutalist or Deconstructivist architecture.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 83739

Impact dates

Sep 30, 2021
Council report to Administrator recommending GSA policy updates
Sep 30, 2021
Council terminates unless extended by President
Jan 17, 2021
Administrator notification to President before approving non-preferred designs (30 days before GSA could reject without substantial expenditures)

Key directives

Classical and traditional architecture is preferred for applicable federal public buildings
In D.C., classical architecture shall be the default absent exceptional factors
GSA must seek input from future users and local public before selecting architects or designs
Administrator must notify President 30+ days before approving non-preferred designs including Brutalist or Deconstructivist
Council must submit report to Administrator before September 30, 2021 recommending GSA policy updates
Council terminates September 30, 2021 unless extended by President

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Classical architecture becomes preferred/default for D.C. federal buildings
GSA Administrator must adhere to section 2 policies
President's Council established

Near term (90d)

Council operations and meetings
Council report to Administrator due before September 30, 2021

Long term

Potential lasting changes to federal building design standards if policies are implemented
Council terminates September 30, 2021 unless extended

Risks & tensions

Order explicitly excludes 'artists, architects, engineers, critics, professors' and industry-affiliated groups from definition of 'general public'—unusual narrowing of stakeholder input
Mandatory presidential notification for non-classical designs creates political bottleneck but also potential for politicization of aesthetic decisions
Council's short lifespan (9 months) may limit substantive policy implementation before potential administration change
Vague 'exceptional factors' exception for D.C. default leaves undefined escape hatch
Feasibility/economy test for renovations (sec. 2(c)) is weak—'substantial consideration' not mandate
Order was issued weeks before end of presidential term, suggesting limited time for institutional embedding