# 2025-16928: Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again: Classical Revival Order

2025-16928, Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again, is a Federal Register presidential document from Executive Office of the President published 2025-09-03, effective 2025-08-28 (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-16928
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-16928
- Title: Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again
- Type: Presidential Document
- Agencies: Executive Office of the President
- Citation: 90 FR 42685
- Published: 2025-09-03
- Effective: 2025-08-28
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-04

## In one line

Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again: Classical Revival Order

## Summary

The government is bringing back beautiful, classical-style buildings to make federal architecture inspiring and easy to recognize again. This change affects all new federal buildings, shifting away from modern designs that many people don’t like. Starting now, local communities will have more say, and the government will invest in designs that connect with American history and pride.

## Effects PRIA read

- Classical Design Is Preferred: mixed, medium. Federal policy makes classical and traditional architecture the preferred style for "applicable Federal public buildings." In the District of Columbia, classical architecture is the preferred and default architecture for Federal public buildings unless there are exceptional factors.
- $50M Threshold Defines Coverage: mixed, medium. An "applicable Federal public building" includes any Federal public building that costs or is expected to cost more than $50 million in 2025 dollars to design, build, and finish. The definition also explicitly includes all Federal courthouses, agency headquarters, and all Federal public buildings i…
- GSA Will Favor Classical Expertise: benefit, high. The General Services Administration (GSA) must update policies so GSA architects reviewing designs have training or significant experience in classical/traditional architecture, create a senior advisor in classical architecture, and give substantive weight to classical/traditional experience when e…
- Renovations Must Consider Classical Redesign: mixed, medium. When renovating, reducing, or expanding applicable Federal public buildings that do not meet the preferred criteria, agencies must examine the feasibility and potential expense of redesigning to meet the classical/traditional criteria and, where feasible and economical, give such redesign substanti…
- Extra Review Before Non‑Classical Approvals: cost, low. If GSA proposes approving a design that diverges from the preferred architecture (including Brutalist or Deconstructivist styles), the Administrator must notify the President via the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy at least 30 days before GSA could reject such a design without substa…
- Local Agencies Must Be Consulted: benefit, low. Site choice for Federal buildings should be made in cooperation with local agencies, with special attention to how buildings fit streets and public places, and to reflect regional architectural traditions; agencies should pay attention to the preferences of the American people and local communities.

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## Sources
- [2025-16928 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/03/2025-16928/making-federal-architecture-beautiful-again)
- [2025-16928 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-09-03/pdf/2025-16928.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-16924, Further Exclusions From the Federal Labor- Management Relations Program](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-16924)
- [Next: 2025-16935, Use of Appropriated Funds for Illegal Lobbying and Partisan Political Activity…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-16935)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-16928 (as of 2026-11-04).