House bill seeks to block Kennedy Center demolition as court fight continues
A House proposal would require Congress to authorize the demolition of a presidential memorial designated by Congress, adding a potential legislative check as the Kennedy Center remains closed amid litigation over repairs and its future.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, introduced H.R. 10634 on September 28, 2026. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and has not become law.
What the House proposal would do
The bill would provide that a memorial honoring a president and designated by an act of Congress may not be demolished unless another act of Congress authorizes the demolition. Its definition of demolition covers the intentional razing, destruction or wrecking of an entire building or a substantial portion of it.
That language would create a congressional approval requirement for covered memorials. It would not, by itself, end the Kennedy Center’s closure, stop every construction or renovation project, or resolve the pending court litigation.
Senate consideration was blocked procedurally
On September 28, Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sought immediate Senate consideration of language barring demolition of a congressionally designated presidential memorial without a separate act of Congress.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, objected to the unanimous-consent request. Lee also objected when Merkley proposed returning with a request for limited debate. The Senate therefore did not hold a final-passage vote, and the proposal remains unresolved.
Why the Kennedy Center is involved
The Senate discussion explicitly connected the measure to President Donald Trump’s public remarks about potentially demolishing the Kennedy Center and to disputes over the institution’s proposed renaming. Those ideas remain proposals rather than a completed demolition decision.
The Kennedy Center was designated by Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. That designation is the basis for the bill’s proposed congressional-authorization requirement, although the legislation would apply more broadly to covered presidential memorials.
How the court case and repair money fit in
In Beatty v. Trump, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia addressed litigation involving the Kennedy Center’s closure and planned construction work. The court’s May 29, 2026, opinion said Congress had appropriated roughly $257 million through September 30, 2029, for capital repair, restoration, maintenance backlog and security structures at the building and site.
The opinion also described prior capital plans that contemplated phased repairs while keeping the facility operating, underscoring why the closure and construction decisions are being contested separately from the proposed congressional protection against demolition.
Closure has disrupted performances and events
The Kennedy Center’s main building remains closed to the public, affecting performers, audiences, workers and organizations that rely on its stages and facilities.
One practical consequence is the relocation of the Kennedy Center Honors to Capital One Arena, according to the Associated Press. The move illustrates how the closure has affected major institutional events beyond the building itself.
The next checkpoints are House committee action, any renewed Senate consideration and additional court rulings in the closure litigation. Until Congress passes a bill and it becomes law, no new statutory protection against demolition is in effect.
Sources
- H.R. 10634, Protecting Presidential Memorials, Government Publishing Office
- Reuters, bipartisan members of Congress move to block demolition of Kennedy Center
- Associated Press, Kennedy Center Honors to be held at Capital One Arena
Look for updates to this story
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.