Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) plans to introduce legislation to bar demolition of presidential memorials designated by Congress, a move prompted by threats to tear down the Kennedy Center over a dispute about adding former President Trump’s name. The bill would require an Act of Congress to authorize demolition and defines demolition as the intentional razing of an entire structure or a substantial portion. The measure has reported bipartisan support and follows a court order requiring 30 days' notice for major repair plans; the Kennedy Center remains closed for emergency repairs while litigation and discovery continue through October.
Sen. Merkley Plans Bill to Block Demolition of Kennedy Center and Other Congressional Presidential Memorials
The Kennedy Center abruptly shut its doors to visitors last week. (Photo by Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) plans to introduce legislation as soon as next week aimed at blocking the demolition of presidential memorials that have been designated by Congress, intervening directly in the escalating dispute over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
What the Bill Would Do
The draft bill, shared with Forbes, states in part:
"A Memorial To Honor A President Of The United States Designated By An Act Of Congress May Not Be Demolished Unless Authorized By An Act Of Congress."
The text defines "demolition" as the "intentional razing, destroying, or wrecking of an entire building or structure or a substantial portion of a building or structure." If enacted, the measure would require Congress to approve any demolition of sites created by statute, a protection that would extend beyond the Kennedy Center to other federally designated presidential memorials such as the Lincoln Memorial.
Context: The Kennedy Center Dispute
The push for statutory protection follows repeated public threats by former President Donald Trump to tear down the Kennedy Center if a federal court does not allow the institution to add his name to its facade — a change the center says is important for fundraising. The dispute has produced high-profile court filings, public comments, and viral images, including a placard reading "Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED" that Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), the plaintiff in the case, filed with the court.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered that the Kennedy Center must provide at least 30 days' notice before taking major steps in its repair plans, including demolition. Judge Cooper also has ruled the center may not inscribe Trump's name on the building's marble facade, finding that such a renaming would conflict with the center's founding law and Congress's designation of the site as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Ongoing Litigation and Operational Status
The Kennedy Center abruptly closed to visitors after the judge's ruling; Executive Director Matt Floca said the closure was necessary for emergency repairs and extended it through Sept. 30, subject to weekly reassessment. Beatty has argued in court that the shutdown may be a "plain pretext to justify shutting down the Center permanently." The court has set discovery and motion deadlines through October as the litigation proceeds.
Political Repercussions
Sen. Merkley may seek unanimous consent to move the bill as early as Monday, his office said. Axios reported that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is expected to cosponsor the measure, giving the proposal bipartisan support in the Senate. The bill is a legislative response to a dispute that has involved the Kennedy Center's board — which, during the Trump administration, underwent major turnover and attempted to add Trump's name to the institution — and challenges over who has authority to name or rename a federally designated memorial.
Sources: Forbes, Axios, court filings, statements from Sen. Merkley's office and the Kennedy Center.
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