H.R. 5009 — Fine Arts Protection Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings on the role of art in preserving and understanding history and on the General Services Administration's Fine Arts Program, which curates one of the oldest and largest public arts collections in the United States and preserves historic works of cultural significance, including those commissioned under New Deal programs.

This section directs the Comptroller General to initiate, not later than one year after enactment of this Act, a review of the General Services Administration's (GSA) Fine Arts Program, which manages and preserves the Fine Arts Collection (i.e., artwork in federal buildings, including commissions from New Deal programs such as the Works Progress Administration). The review must (1) survey each piece of art in the collection, (2) estimate the collection's economic value, (3) assess GSA's stewardship of the program, (4) evaluate whether current staffing and funding levels are sufficient for managing and preserving the collection, (5) compare GSA's management to that of other entities with similar-sized art collections, and (6) examine GSA's plans—given ongoing staff and budget reductions—for relocating the collection. Not later than two years after enactment, the Comptroller General must submit to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works a report containing the review's findings and recommendations, including whether GSA's Fine Arts Program should continue managing the collection.