Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter on Mar. 12 to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Ed Forst regarding concerns about the management of the agency’s Fine Arts Program and Collection.
The senators raised questions about the stewardship of approximately 26,000 historic works in the GSA Fine Arts Collection after reports of staff layoffs and potential mismanagement. The collection includes murals, sculptures, paintings, and architectural artworks located in federal buildings across the country. The Environment and Public Works Committee has oversight jurisdiction over these public buildings and works.
“Beyond its questionable legality and arbitrary nature, the placement of more than half of the Fine Arts division’s staff on leave, pending termination, also raises critical questions about the continued stewardship of these artworks, many of which were commissioned with public funds and are held in trust for the American people,” wrote Whitehouse and Schumer in their letter to Forst. “Given the risks posed to these artworks in the absence of sufficient oversight, we request information and documents to help us better understand GSA’s management of its treasured artwork collection.”
The senators highlighted concerns about buildings like the Wilbur J. Cohen Building in Washington, D.C., which contains irremovable New Deal-era murals. As GSA moves forward with selling such properties, it remains unclear how these artworks will be preserved or maintained once ownership changes hands. They warned that as more federal buildings are sold, multiple works from the Fine Arts Collection could be at risk.
In addition to their letter to Forst, Whitehouse and Schumer requested an audit from GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert Erickson regarding current practices for managing federal art assets. “Given the passage of time since the original audit and the current risks to federal art, we respectfully request that your office conduct an updated audit of GSA’s Fine Arts Program, including updated recommendations on valuation and preservation of artworks in buildings slated for disposal by GSA. We believe it is vital to ensure that federally owned artworks are being managed lawfully, in accordance with your office’s original recommendations, and in a manner that reflects the public trust,” they wrote.
“The Fine Arts Collection belongs to the American people, and it is imperative that GSA upholds its duty to preserve and protect these works for future generations,” added Whitehouse and Schumer.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee maintains its administrative base in the Senate Dirksen Office Building to support hearings and operations according to its official website. The committee oversees federal programs related to environmental quality, natural resources, infrastructure policy according to its official website, handles legislation affecting environmental regulations nationwide according to its official website, influences wildlife protection policies according to its official website, collaborates through subcommittees on clean air initiatives according to its official website, and is chaired by Shelley Moore Capito alongside members such as Kevin Cramer and Cynthia Lummis according to its official website.
