Make Federal Architecture Beautiful Again Act

Summary

Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to adopt a federal design policy that prefers classical and traditional architectural styles for large and prominent federal public buildings, emphasizes civic dignity and regional traditions, and calls for substantial community input. It directs GSA to change policies, hiring, procurement, and competition procedures so reviewers and competitors show classical/traditional experience, creates a senior architectural advisor role, and requires advance presidential notification when GSA may reject a preferred-architecture design. Applies to federal courthouses, agency headquarters, all federal public buildings in the National Capital Region, and other federal public buildings with design/build/finish costs above $50 million (2025 dollars). The bill sets aesthetic and programmatic guiding principles, encourages including fine art and proven construction methods, and asks agencies to consider redesigning nonconforming existing buildings where feasible and economical.

• Directs GSA to prefer classical and traditional architecture for prominent federal public buildings and to emphasize civic dignity and regional traditions.
• Applies to federal courthouses, agency headquarters, all federal public buildings in the National Capital Region, and other federal public buildings costing over $50M (2025 dollars).
• Requires substantial local community input in choosing building designs and encourages redesign of nonconforming existing buildings when feasible and economical.
• Creates GSA implementation requirements: personnel qualifications, a Senior Advisor for Architectural Design, procurement weighting for classical/traditional experience, and active recruitment of firms with relevant expertise.
• Mandates 30-day advance notice to the White House before GSA rejects preferred-architecture designs without major expenditures, including lifecycle cost and aesthetic justifications.
• Encourages incorporation of fine art (with emphasis on living American artists where appropriate), proven construction methods, and accessible, economical building operation.
• Does not appropriate new funding or specify an effective date; several provisions are qualified by "to the extent practicable."
• Makes classical architecture the default preferred style for federal buildings in the District of Columbia, barring exceptional justification for alternatives.