US bill seeks to block sale of federal buildings holding New Deal art
US Democrats have introduced a bill to prevent the destruction of historically significant New Deal murals as the Trump administration disposes of federal properties.
Two Democratic members of the US Congressional Arts Caucus introduced the Protecting Resources and Ensuring Stewardship of Enduring Records of Visual Expression (Preserve) Act on 14 July. The legislation aims to safeguard publicly commissioned artwork inside federal buildings that the Trump administration has marked for disposal.
The bill tasks the General Services Administration, the federal property manager, with forming an expert committee. This group would be responsible for ensuring art remains accessible to the public, either by leasing works or relocating them before a building is sold.
The immediate focus is the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building in Washington, DC, which the administration targeted for sale early in Trump's second term. The building contains a celebrated collection of New Deal-era frescoes by artists including Philip Guston and Ben Shahn.
Because these works are frescoes embedded directly into the walls, they cannot be simply removed. Protecting them requires highly specialized technical skills and art-historical knowledge, raising the logistical and financial stakes of the proposed sale.
“Publicly commissioned art should never become collateral damage when federal buildings are sold or otherwise disposed of,” said co-sponsor Dina Titus. “Art commissioned by the federal government is a vital part of our national heritage and deserves to be preserved for future generations.”
The murals were created during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1930s New Deal programme, which employed artists during severe economic hardship. Preservationists warn that selling the Cohen Building and similar properties without strict safeguards could result in the permanent destruction of these assets.
Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works, noted the works are “besides being priceless irreplaceable masterpieces of American art”, an invaluable part of history because of the public employment programme that created them. Co-sponsor Lloyd Doggett added that the art provides “a visual history of the struggle, opposition and ultimately of progress across generations of Americans.”
The legislation has been referred to the House committees on transportation and infrastructure, and oversight and government reform. However, with Republicans holding a majority in the House of Representatives, it remains uncertain when the bill will advance.
Several heritage groups have endorsed the bill, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Living New Deal, Hands Off the Arts, and Preservation Action. Amy Werbel and Karen Shelby, co-chairs of Public Art Dialogue, said the works “serve not only as visible reminders of the aspirations of past Americans, but also as guideposts for the future enrichment of our national visual landscape.”
