Artists, preservationists, and activists are rallying against the potential demolition of a significant federal office building adjacent to the National Mall, which houses invaluable New Deal-era murals. Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works, alongside local muralist Absurdly Well, has initiated a petition to halt the Trump administration’s plans to sell the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building. The petition, released this week, brands the building as the “Sistine Chapel of New Deal art.” In an interview with Hyperallergic, Lawson criticized the sale as an act of “authoritarianism 101.”
Lawson expressed concerns over the erasure of cultural and historical art, which he views as a tactic used by authoritarian regimes. “We couldn’t stop them from destroying the East Wing of the White House, but I pledge we’ll stop them from destroying the Wilbur Cohen building,” Lawson stated. The building, a historically designated landmark since 1978 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, features works by artists like Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, Seymour Fogel, and others. These murals are considered integral to preserving America’s national heritage.
With President Trump’s administration moving to sell four federal properties, including the Wilbur Cohen building, fears have grown that developers may demolish the site. This office building, designed by Charles Klauder and situated on Independence Avenue, houses significant federal offices such as the Social Security Administration and Voice of America. Preservationists, including Judy Chesser from the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, emphasize the difficulty and cost of removing these historical artworks.
Concerns over the GSA’s listing of the property for sale sparked a broader mobilization among activists and artists. Lawson has engaged his extensive mailing list of Social Security recipients, who largely oppose the sale, while prominent figures like FDR’s grandson, Jim Roosevelt, have signed a letter to preserve the building. The issue has even reached Congress, with Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, a co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, condemning the plan as potentially devastating and urging the protection of cultural institutions.
Artist Absurdly Well, co-author of the petition, argues that the administration aims to erase historical memory and dismantle anti-poverty programs. “Artists everywhere should be enraged by this,” he stated. “We need art in public spaces that says: You do not get to erase this narrative.” The activist community continues to advocate for the preservation of these murals, which they see as vital to the nation’s historical narrative.
