President Trump has mandated that all new federal public buildings be designed in a Classical architectural style. This directive aims to promote tradition, enhance civic pride, and inspire citizens through the built environment.
The executive order, signed by President Trump, emphasizes that applicable federal public buildings should be constructed in a manner that “uplifts and beautifies public spaces, ennobles our Nation, and commands respect from the general public,” according to the White House.
The General Services Administration (GSA) will oversee the implementation of this order. It mandates that architects and administrators with the necessary expertise are involved in the design process to ensure adherence to the Classical style.
The order stresses that federal public buildings must be easily identifiable as civic structures and should respect the architectural heritage of their respective regions. This seeks to ensure that new buildings are both aesthetically pleasing and contextually appropriate.
Classical architecture is designated as the preferred style for all federal public buildings, particularly within the District of Columbia. This preference reflects a desire to return to architectural styles seen as embodying American ideals.
Any design that deviates from the Classical style must, according to the order, demonstrate “the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American government and command public respect.” This ensures that even alternative designs align with the overall goals of the initiative.
The order includes a notification requirement for the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy whenever a building design departs from the preferred Classical style. This includes designs embracing Brutalist, Deconstructivist, or other modernist architectural styles. This allows for high-level oversight of deviations from the Classical preference.
President Trump has consistently expressed a desire to “beautify” the nation’s capital, a goal that this order directly supports.
The White House maintains that President Trump is “committed to ensuring that taxpayer-funded buildings reflect the values and aesthetic preferences of the American people,” suggesting a belief that Classical architecture aligns with these preferences.
The White House highlights that Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson personally oversaw the design of iconic structures such as the Capitol Building and the White House, establishing a precedent for “timeless architecture.” This historical context is used to justify the return to Classical styles.
The order contrasts with the adoption of modernist and Brutalist designs by the federal government starting in the 1960s. The Trump White House views this shift as a “deeply unpopular” move, arguing that “a majority of American taxpayers want classical, regionally inspired public buildings that beautify public spaces.”
A previous executive order signed by Mr. Trump in 2020, titled “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture,” was rescinded by President Biden in 2021. This highlights the partisan nature of this aesthetic debate.
In January 2025, President Trump directed the Administrator of the General Services Administration to provide recommendations on enhancing the beauty of federal civic architecture and issued an order to protect America’s monuments from vandalism, reinforcing his commitment to these issues.
In March and August of 2025, Mr. Trump signed orders that the White House characterized as steps toward ensuring the safety and aesthetic appeal of Washington, D.C., further emphasizing his focus on the capital’s appearance.