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Bipartisan members of Congress push to block demolition of Kennedy Center following administration threats

Merkley coauthored a bill requiring congressional authorization before a federally designated presidential memorial can be demolished.

Bipartisan members of Congress push to block demolition of Kennedy Center following administration threats
Image · The News International

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Outlet credibilityThe News InternationalNOT RATED
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
tl;dr

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill requiring congressional authorization before a federally designated presidential memorial can be demolished. Senator Mike Lee blocked an attempt to advance it by unanimous consent.

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Jeff Merkley D · OR · SEN

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Jeff Merkley
D · OR · SEN

Senator and coauthor of the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Senator and coauthor of the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act

Murkowski's version of this story ↗

Representative and coauthor of the bill, with companion efforts in the House

Pingree's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President named as a potential signer and in connection with the Kennedy Center board's renaming decision

Mike Lee
R · UT · SEN

Senator who blocked the unanimous-consent effort

ALSO MENTIONED  John F. Kennedy, Former president honored by the Kennedy Center

Part of a bigger story

6 OUTLETS
Jeff Merkley Backs Bill Requiring Approval for Kennedy Center Demolition

Merkley and other lawmakers backed a bipartisan bill requiring congressional approval before the Kennedy Center could be demolished; an effort to advance it in the Senate was blocked by Mike Lee. Center outlets share a focus on the bipartisan bill and the blocked Senate effort, while some also highlight Trump’s position or the possibility of attaching the measure to year-end legislation.

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