Two Democratic senators have reintroduced legislation aimed at countering President Donald Trump's mandate requiring "traditional and classical" architectural styles for federal buildings. Senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico recently introduced the Democracy in Design Act (DDA) to the Senate, signaling broader congressional interest in challenging the administration's architectural directives.
The legislation mirrors a bill previously introduced in the House of Representatives in 2020 by Congresswoman Dina Titus, which was designed to counter Trump's pro-classical executive order from his first presidential term. While these classical architecture orders were overturned by President Joe Biden in 2021, making the congressional legislation temporarily less relevant, the House bill was reintroduced following Trump's reinstatement of the pro-classical executive orders upon returning to office.
The Senate version introduced by Van Hollen and Luján improves the chances of the legislation passing by demonstrating bipartisan interest, though the bill would still need to pass through both houses of Congress in identical form. The legislative process remains in its early stages, with significant hurdles ahead before any potential enactment.
Where Trump's executive order establishes a mandated "traditional and classical" style for federal buildings, the Democracy in Design Act would codify the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture that have been in place since the 1960s. These principles delegate design choices to local communities rather than imposing a uniform federal standard. "There should not be a one-size-fits-all mandate for the design of federal architecture," Senator Van Hollen stated in a press release. "This legislation will help ensure that federal buildings reflect the diversity of our nation and the American people, and meet the needs of the communities they serve."
Trump declared "traditional and classical" styles as "preferred modes of architectural design" following an eight-month-long review process mandated by his Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture order, which he signed on the first day of his second term in January. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), which has consistently opposed Trump's executive orders, has expressed support for the reintroduction of the DDA. AIA President Evelyn Lee praised the politicians for their "leadership in preserving democratic values in the design process."
Almost immediately after Van Hollen and Luján's announcement, Republican Senator Jim Banks of Indiana, along with National Civic Art Society President Justin Shubow, published an opinion piece announcing their forthcoming Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act. This competing bill aims to codify Trump's executive orders into permanent law, ensuring the classical architecture mandate would survive beyond the current administration.
In their opinion piece, Shubow and Banks criticized the prevalence of modernist federal buildings and those resembling "bizarre art projects," specifically citing Thom Mayne's Nancy Pelosi San Francisco Federal Building as an example. The authors emphasized their focus on public input, which they claim was not previously required, and noted that their act would not mandate specific designs but rather "require a preference" for classical styles. "My legislation doesn't mandate any specific style for buildings across the country – it only requires a preference for classical and traditional architecture designs, which include everything from neoclassical to art deco to Romanesque to Pueblo revival," Banks and Shubow explained.
The Republican legislators directly linked their architectural preference requirement to an expression of "Western values," framing the debate in broader cultural terms. Shubow has been a vocal proponent of the classical and traditional architectural focus and has previously told Dezeen that the AIA and other architecture establishments are overreacting to the mandate. He noted that while the number of affected building projects would be relatively small, their symbolic importance would be significant.
The architectural design debate reflects broader tensions about federal policy and cultural expression in America. Trump has released several executive orders attempting to shape design policy in the United States, including the recent formation of a National Design Studio. Reports indicate that work is currently underway on a new ballroom wing that Trump has planned for the White House, demonstrating the administration's commitment to implementing its architectural vision at the highest levels of government.
