Senator Mike Lee blocked a bipartisan bill that would have prevented Donald Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center without congressional approval. The bill, co-written by Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Lisa Murkowski, aimed to protect presidential memorials designated by Congress from demolition without explicit lawmaker consent.
The legislative pushback highlights ongoing tensions between Congress and the executive branch over the control and preservation of national landmarks, with potential implications for future infrastructure projects and the use of presidential authority.
Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, objected on Monday night to the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, a bipartisan bill that would have prevented Donald Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center without the explicit approval of Congress. Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, had asked the Senate to pass the bill by unanimous consent. The legislation, co-written with Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, would prohibit the demolition of any presidential memorial designated by Congress unless lawmakers explicitly authorized it.
Senator Merkley criticized Trump's actions, stating, "First, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself." He characterized Trump's threats as "straight out of the authoritarian playbook."
Senator Murkowski, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the center, commented last week that while substantial renovation work had been authorized and funded, "what was not authorized is a demolition of the Kennedy Center."
The dispute over the Kennedy Center has been a prolonged legal battle during Trump's second term. The conflict began when Trump took control of the center after returning to office, replacing the board with allies and criticizing its "woke" programming. In December, Trump's appointed board voted to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center. However, in May, federal judge Christopher Cooper deemed the renaming illegal and halted a planned two-year closure. On September 15, Cooper rejected a second attempt to place Trump's name on the building. Following this decision, Trump stated that the $257 million renovation would not proceed unless the ruling was reversed.
In August, justice department lawyers had warned in court that the building could deteriorate to the point of requiring demolition, suggesting an outdoor amphitheater as a potential replacement. A judge has since mandated a 30-day notice period for any demolition plans, and the center's leader has assured the court that the building will remain standing.
Senator Lee has been a close ally of Trump since 2020 and supported his efforts to contest the 2020 election results. He has also advocated for the Trump-backed Save Act, which requires voter ID and proof of citizenship for voting.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.