Preservationists are petitioning to save Washington, D.C.'s Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, known as the 'Sistine Chapel of New Deal Art' for its 20th-century murals by Philip Guston and Ben Shahn. The Trump administration has listed the building for sale under an 'accelerated disposal' program, raising fears it could be demolished. The nonprofit Living New Deal launched a petition demanding transparency and public participation, as the building is one of 45 federal properties slated for swift sale. The structure, completed in 1940, houses ten New Deal-era artworks including frescoes, relief sculptures, and murals, and has been home to Voice of America since 1954.
The sale threatens a unique collection of federally commissioned public art from the New Deal era, including works by major American artists. The General Services Administration has also signaled plans to sell nearly half of its 26,000-artwork collection, and in March put most collection caretakers on leave. The building's potential loss would strip the American people of a significant piece of cultural heritage, especially as the Trump administration prioritizes classical architectural styles over modernist and New Deal-era landmarks.