Senator Mike Lee Halts Bipartisan Effort to Prevent Trump from Demolishing Kennedy Center Without Congressional Approval

A Republican senator has obstructed a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping Donald Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center without congressional approval.

Utah Senator Mike Lee objected on Monday after Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley urged the Senate to approve the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act by unanimous consent. Co-sponsored with Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, the legislation would have prohibited the demolition of any congressionally designated presidential memorial—such as the Lincoln and Jefferson monuments—without explicit congressional approval.

Merkley stated, “First, he undermined its programming, and now he seeks to demolish the building itself,” adding, “This is solely because the law prevents Trump from affixing his name to the structure.” He characterized the president’s actions as “straight out of the authoritarian playbook.”

Murkowski, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee funding the center, noted last week that while Congress had authorized and funded major renovations, “demolishing the Kennedy Center was never part of that authorization.”

The dispute over the Kennedy Center has become one of the most protracted legal battles of Trump’s second term. It began when the president assumed control of the center soon after returning to office, dismissed the existing board, installed his allies, and criticized what he described as “woke” programming.

In December, Trump-appointed board members voted to rename the facility the Trump‑Kennedy Center, but in May Judge Christopher Cooper declared the change unlawful and blocked a planned two‑year shutdown. On September 15, Cooper dismissed a second effort to affix Trump’s name to the building, and Trump asserted that the $257 million renovation would proceed only if the ruling were overturned.

In August, Justice Department lawyers cautioned the court that the structure could deteriorate to the point of requiring demolition, suggesting an outdoor amphitheater as a possible alternative. Subsequently, a judge mandated that any demolition plans be announced at least 30 days in advance, and the center’s leadership informed the court that the building will remain intact.

Senator Lee has been a steadfast ally of Trump since 2020, backing his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. More recently, he has repeatedly introduced the Trump‑supported SAVE Act—which would mandate voter identification and proof of citizenship—on the Senate floor, and in April he pressed Trump to compel lawmakers to return to Washington to end a partial government shutdown and enact the legislation.

Lee told the Guardian, “Democrats should collaborate with us to reduce living costs and safeguard American elections, rather than squandering Senate time on partisan fear‑mongering that has not undergone proper committee review.”

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