Required personal approval of federal building architecture and design standards
January 20, 2025
Procedural Bypass
Founders' Principles Violated
Guardrails Violated
Separation of powers and constitutional balance between branches violated.
Administrative process and procedural requirements for agency actions bypassed.
Professional standards and ethical conduct requirements for government service violated.
Why Level 2?
Disproportional escalation: Requiring president's personal approval for architectural standards. Multiple guardrails bypassed: separation of powers, administrative process, professional standards. Measurable harm to professional architectural review processes.
What Happened
Context
President Trump signed executive order on January 20, 2025, requiring the president's personal approval of new architectural and design standards for federal buildings.
Action Taken
Signed executive order on January 20, 2025 requiring the president's personal approval of new architectural and design standards for federal buildings. The order centralizes control over federal building design in the executive office, bypassing established processes for architectural review and design standards. Critics argue the order micromanages federal building design and undermines professional architectural review processes. The order raises concerns about politicization of federal building design.
In His Own Words
"Federal buildings should reflect American values."
"The president must approve all design standards."
"We will ensure federal buildings are built correctly."
What's Wrong
Executive order requiring president's personal approval of architectural and design standards for federal buildings, centralizing control in the executive office. The order bypasses established processes for architectural review and design standards. Critics argue the order micromanages federal building design and undermines professional architectural review processes. Raises concerns about politicization of federal building design.
Impact
Institutional: Centralizes control over federal building design in executive office. Operational: Requires president's personal approval for all architectural and design standards. Political: Raises concerns about politicization of federal building design. Administrative: Bypasses established processes for architectural review.