Dear Supporters,
In 2026, the campaign to save the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building continues to gain national attention and new allies. Now Congress is taking notice! 🚨
On March 11, 2026, members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works announced a formal probe—led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Senator Chuck Schumer—into the management of federal public works and the GSA Fine Arts Collection, which includes the Cohen Federal Building and its extraordinary artworks.
This investigation raises serious concerns that layoffs and mismanagement over the past year have put at risk approximately 26,000 historic works of art in the GSA Fine Arts Collection—including the Cohen Federal Building's murals and relief sculptures. The senators have called for an audit and greater oversight of how our national treasures are being protected.
You can read the committee’s press release here:
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases-democratic?ID=2432F590-BB57-43D0-8003-B20905257554
and the Senate letter requesting the audit here:
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/a/1/a14e69cd-0f55-4390-ae7f-f2adb97bd9a1/C7DF0A364427CDC76A59BDCB7A862E2DA8DDA7585DBC5A1B82A007D864AD479D.3.11.26-letter-to-gsa-re-fine-arts.pdf
Importantly, staff leading the Save the Cohen Federal Building campaign at Living New Deal are quoted and cited in these documents—proof that, with your support, our campaign continues to shape the national conversation about how the federal government protects its historic art and architecture. ✊🎨
This probe also comes on the heels of the GSA reopening public tours of the Cohen Building earlier this year—to overwhelming demand. When tickets went on sale in January, they sold out within 24 hours. The GSA is now receiving more requests to see the Cohen Federal Building than ever before—clear proof of the public’s interest in and pride for this extraordinary landmark. ❤️
While the GSA tours and the announcement of a congressional probe are encouraging steps ⚡, the fight to save the Cohen Federal Building is far from over. Our goals remain the same.
“In preserving the Cohen Building, we preserve that seed of hope in coming together and investing in shared culture and public space for generations yet to come."
That is how leaders of the Save the Cohen Federal Building campaign at Living New Deal explained our goals to readers of The Architect's Newspaper last November, when support for the Cohen Building was just starting to grow with your help. This week, that very editorial was cited by the Senators in their call for GSA to conduct an audit and ensure the proper stewardship of our federal art and architecture collection. Once again, this shows that the voices of concerned citizens truly make a difference.
With your help, we will keep mobilizing support to protect this extraordinary building — and the ideals it represents! 💪
Take Action to Protect the Cohen Federal Building! ✊🏛️
📨 Sign up for direct updates from Living New Deal, including Cohen Federal Building advocacy events:
https://livingnewdeal.org/sign-up/
💖 Make a tax-deductible donation to the Advocating for New Deal Art initiative:
https://livingnewdeal.org/support-living-new-deal/
In solidarity and with gratitude,
— The Living New Deal team