US Bill Aims to Protect Art in Federal Buildings Facing Sale

The PRESERVE Act, introduced July 14 in the US House by Democrats Dina Titus and Lloyd Doggett, seeks to safeguard artworks in federal buildings slated for disposal under the Trump administration's property reduction program. Since March 2025, the General Services Administration (GSA) has identified underused buildings for sale; 12 have been sold or are in process. The bill would regulate the handling of art within these properties, as buyers may convert or demolish them. The GSA oversees about 26,000 works across federal buildings, museums, and cultural institutions. Some pieces originated from the New Deal's Federal Art Project (1935). A key case is the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building in Washington, DC, dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of the New Deal," housing murals by Philip Guston and Ben Shahn. A petition to save it gathered nearly 10,000 signatures in early 2026. The bill has been referred to House committees but faces long odds with only Democratic sponsors and no hearing date set.