Executive Order 14344: Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again

What does Executive Order 14344 do?

The order set a preference for public architecture and assigned GSA and other agencies roles in design review, with exceptions and project-specific judgment described in the text.

Official records rechecked October 2, 2026: GSA’s project page, last updated September 21, 2026, says the Hartford courthouse design will incorporate classical or traditional architecture under EO 14344. It listed Phase II proposals due September 24 and projected a design-build award in early 2027. The page records procurement planning, not a completed building or award.

Reading the operative provisions of Executive Order 14344

EO 14344 directs federal agencies to favor traditional and classical architectural styles in the design of certain federal buildings. It assigns GSA and other agencies roles in design review and implementation. The Federal Register text sets a design preference; it does not require every federal building to use one style regardless of function, cost or site.

Federal buildings serve different purposes, including courthouses, laboratories, offices and security facilities. Design review must consider accessibility, resilience, operating costs, local context, historic preservation and the needs of the people who use the building. A style preference can guide a commission or procurement but should not replace professional evaluation of safety and function.

The order also interacts with the procurement process and agency design standards. A new building’s final design depends on the responsible agency, GSA, appropriations, site conditions and contract. The policy does not automatically change a completed building or a project already under contract. To understand its effect, examine design directives, project approvals and public consultation records, and distinguish a preference in an executive order from a binding project specification.