A fresh legislative effort led by Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) aims to transform the aesthetic of federal buildings by prioritizing classical and traditional architectural styles.
Introduced late last week, their bill seeks to enshrine in law a preference for designs that echo the timeless elegance of ancient Greece and Rome, aligning closely with a recent executive order from President Trump to make American architecture “great again.”
“Americans want their federal buildings to reflect the strength, beauty, and tradition of our country,” Banks said to the New York Post. “This bill ensures our architecture honors our history, includes local input from our communities, and celebrates American tradition.”
The proposed legislation builds on Trump’s executive order from last month, which mandates that new federal construction projects costing over $50 million favor classical designs.
The order allows limited exceptions for “brutalist” or “deconstructivist” styles—known for their stark, blocky forms or fragmented, skewed geometries—but only with presidential approval.
“For too long, our federal buildings in our nation’s capital and across the country have been marked by cold, impersonal structures that ignore the values and beauty our republic was built upon,” Kiley stated.
“The bill I’m sponsoring will restore the classical spirit of democracy to the architecture of our federal buildings. This is a proud step toward honoring our heritage and inspiring future generations.”
The bill mirrors the language of Trump’s order, proposing a permanent amendment to the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture to prioritize classical and traditional styles. It also emphasizes involving local communities in the design process, ensuring public input shapes these civic spaces.
Historically, iconic structures like the U.S. Capitol and the White House embodied classical design, symbolizing the nation’s enduring values.
However, in the 1960s, the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture, authored by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, shifted focus toward contemporary styles, sidelining classical influences.
Today, only 8% of federal buildings constructed under the U.S. General Services Administration’s Design Excellence Program feature classical designs, despite a Harris poll showing 72% of Americans prefer them for federal structures.
This isn’t Banks’ first effort to revive classical architecture. In 2023, as a congressman, he introduced the “Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act” to promote similar ideals.
He has also championed other legislative efforts to codify Trump’s executive actions, such as a July bill going after wokeness in museums that are federally funded.
By embedding classical and traditional designs into law, Banks and Kiley aim to restore a sense of grandeur and continuity to America’s federal architecture, reflecting the nation’s heritage while inviting communities to help shape its future.
Stay tuned to the Fairview Gazette.
