Trump Order Beautifies Federal Buildings

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to beautify federal architecture.

According to Trump’s order, the Founding Fathers “wanted America’s public buildings to inspire the American people and encourage civic virtue,” leading them to use “classical architecture to visually connect our contemporary Republic with the antecedents of democracy in classical antiquity, reminding citizens not only of their rights but also their responsibilities in maintaining and perpetuating its institutions.”

In the 1990s, the General Services Administration (GSA) created the Design Excellence Program, which led to “undistinguished” and “unappealing” buildings.

“It is time to update the policies guiding Federal architecture to address these problems and ensure that architects designing Federal buildings serve their clients, the American people,” the order declares, going on to explain that federal buildings are to “uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, ennoble the United States, and command respect from the general public.”

While the order honors “classical architecture,” described as that which is formed by Green and Roman antiquity and expanded upon through Renaissance and Enlightenment influences, it adds that the “preference does not exclude the possibility of alternative styles in appropriate circumstances.”

Trump’s order addressing federal buildings follows his order establishing the country’s first national design studio for federal websites. The order creates the “American by Design” initiative to “improve experiences for Americans, starting by breathing new life into the design of sites where people interface with their Government.”

The National Design Studio will “advise agencies on how to reduce duplicative design costs, use standardized design to enhance the public’s trust in high-impact service providers, and dramatically improve the quality of experiences offered to the American public,” the order declares.

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