Archive · 2 Sep 2025
Trump's Executive Order Revives Classical Architecture for Federal Buildings
President Trump signed an order to make new government buildings look like the buildings of ancient Greece and Rome.
This is because he wants to connect current buildings with the history of democracy.
These classical designs use columns, domes, and arches, and were common in the U.S. earlier.
Trump wants to bring this style back after many buildings switched to more modern designs in the 1960s.
However, some architects and magazines disagree with this, saying it might hurt the construction industry.
But many architects continue to use this style, drawing inspiration from the human body, aiming for monumentality, and innovating with new materials.
Trump issued an Executive Order mandating classical architecture for new federal buildings.
The order references the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome.
The 1960s saw a shift towards modernist and brutalist styles in government buildings.
Some architects and magazines are critical of the order.
Classical architecture emphasizes human proportions, monumentality, and material innovation.
- Who
- Donald Trump
- What
- Issued an Executive Order promoting classical architecture for federal buildings
- When
- August 28
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To visually connect contemporary America with the antecedents of democracy and to make government buildings more appealing
Critics of the Executive Order
Supporters of the Executive Order
Impact on construction
Critics of the Executive Order
The order could negatively impact the construction industry.
Supporters of the Executive Order
The order will make federal architecture beautiful again.
Aesthetics
Critics of the Executive Order
The emphasis on aesthetics distracts from more pressing issues.
Supporters of the Executive Order
Classical architecture honors the site and context of the buildings.
- Executive Order
- Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again
- Target
- New federal buildings
- Architectural Style
- Classical and traditional styles
- Historical Influence
- Greek and Roman antiquity
- Previous Shift
- Modernist and brutalist styles in the 1960s