President Donald J. Trump on Thursday signed a proclamation establishing the Oval Office as a national monument under the Antiquities Act.
The new designation applies to the Oval Office, the Outer Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. The order aims to ensure the preservation, proper care and management of the workspace, according to the White House. The administration stated the Oval Office merits more protective management than its previous recognition as a National Historic Landmark.
Under the proclamation, the Secretary of the Interior is directed to develop and implement a management plan alongside relevant executive departments. The plan must prioritize preserving the space and requires officials to document and consider alternatives before substantially altering or demolishing the Oval Office. The secretary is also directed to ensure any proposed changes to the office’s character are consistent with its national significance, and to coordinate with the Committee for the Preservation of the White House and other advisory bodies.
The White House said the monument designation protects a space that has served as the principal working office of the president for nearly a century. A fact sheet described the office as a symbol of the presidency that has witnessed decisions of profound national and international consequence.
The fact sheet also listed other actions regarding historical sites and the capital. These include an August 2025 mandate that federal public buildings use classical architecture, as well as the return of the National Garden of American Heroes and construction of a new Triumphal Arch. The administration noted work cleaning hundreds of graffiti sites, fixing over 2,300 light fixtures, repairing dozens of fountains and repairing the Reflecting Pool.
Additionally, the administration is building a White House ballroom and expanding the East Wing. The White House said the expansion will more than triple hosting capacity for major functions at no cost to taxpayers.