Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens protections for the historic character and planning of federal public buildings in D.C. by requiring defined plans and Congressional approval for demolition/major alterations, but it imposes extra processes that can delay projects, raise costs, politicize decisions, and potentially impede emergency removals.
Federal agencies, Congress, and D.C. communities: requiring Congressional approval for demolition or substantial alteration of federal public buildings in D.C. helps preserve historic character and prevents unilateral removal of important buildings.
Federal building owners/operators and surrounding D.C. neighborhoods: mandating a finalized construction plan before demolition reduces the risk of unfinished projects and neighborhood blight.
Federal agencies and planners: defining 'public building' and 'substantial alteration' adds clarity and improves consistency in planning and review (e.g., by NCPC).
Occupants, emergency responders, and local governments: requiring an approved construction plan and possible Congressional action may delay urgent demolition and hinder quick removal of unsafe structures in emergencies.
Federal building owners/operators, taxpayers, and local governments: the need for Congressional authorization for demolition/major alterations will add procedural delays and can increase project costs.
Federal agencies and D.C. stakeholders: routing routine property decisions through Congressional approval risks politicizing projects and slowing needed renovations or maintenance.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires express congressional authorization and an approved construction plan before demolishing or substantially altering federal public buildings in D.C.
Official title: To provide for certain requirements and oversight for demolition or substantial alteration of Federal buildings, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 18, 2025 by Melanie Ann Stansbury · Last progress December 18, 2025
Prohibits demolishing or substantially altering any federal "public building" in the District of Columbia unless Congress expressly authorizes the action and an approved, finalized construction plan is in place. The bill defines which buildings count as "public buildings" and what qualifies as a "substantial alteration," and it adds the same definition into 40 U.S.C. § 8722. A severability clause preserves the rest of the law if part is struck down.