Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill, known as the "Make Federal Architecture Beautiful Again Act," establishes a new policy for the design of applicable Federal public buildings. It declares that such buildings should uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, and command respect from the general public. To achieve this, the bill designates traditional and classical architecture as the preferred styles, with classical architecture being the default for Federal public buildings in the District of Columbia, absent exceptional factors. The legislation defines "applicable Federal public buildings" to include all Federal courthouses, agency headquarters, buildings in the National Capital Region, and other Federal public buildings costing over $50 million (in 2025 dollars), excluding infrastructure projects. It also defines and discourages styles like Brutalist and Deconstructivist architecture . The bill mandates that the General Services Administration (GSA) update its policies and procedures to incorporate these principles, ensuring that GSA architects involved in design selection have formal training or substantial experience in classical or traditional architecture . Furthermore, the GSA Administrator is required to create a senior advisor for architectural design position, specializing in classical architecture, to guide design evaluations. In design-build competitions, experience with classical or traditional architecture will be a significant factor, and GSA must actively recruit firms with such expertise. Should the Administrator propose a design that diverges from the preferred architecture, such as Brutalist or Deconstructivist styles, a detailed notification with justification and cost comparisons must be provided to the President's domestic policy advisor.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Government Operations and Politics
Make Federal Architecture Beautiful Again Act
USA119th CongressHR-5565| House
| Updated: 12/1/2025
This bill, known as the "Make Federal Architecture Beautiful Again Act," establishes a new policy for the design of applicable Federal public buildings. It declares that such buildings should uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, and command respect from the general public. To achieve this, the bill designates traditional and classical architecture as the preferred styles, with classical architecture being the default for Federal public buildings in the District of Columbia, absent exceptional factors. The legislation defines "applicable Federal public buildings" to include all Federal courthouses, agency headquarters, buildings in the National Capital Region, and other Federal public buildings costing over $50 million (in 2025 dollars), excluding infrastructure projects. It also defines and discourages styles like Brutalist and Deconstructivist architecture . The bill mandates that the General Services Administration (GSA) update its policies and procedures to incorporate these principles, ensuring that GSA architects involved in design selection have formal training or substantial experience in classical or traditional architecture . Furthermore, the GSA Administrator is required to create a senior advisor for architectural design position, specializing in classical architecture, to guide design evaluations. In design-build competitions, experience with classical or traditional architecture will be a significant factor, and GSA must actively recruit firms with such expertise. Should the Administrator propose a design that diverges from the preferred architecture, such as Brutalist or Deconstructivist styles, a detailed notification with justification and cost comparisons must be provided to the President's domestic policy advisor.