Sen. Mike Lee Blocks Bipartisan Bill to Protect Kennedy Center and Presidential Memorials

• by Shimanta Das
• October 1, 2026

In a late-night session on Monday, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah blocked a bipartisan bill that would have prevented former President Donald Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center without congressional approval. The bill, titled the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and co-written with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. It sought to ban the demolition of any presidential memorial designated by Congress—including the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials—unless lawmakers explicitly approved such action. Merkley requested unanimous consent to pass the bill, but Lee objected, effectively stalling the legislation.

The move comes amid heightened scrutiny over Trump’s recent comments about the Kennedy Center. According to reports, Trump told reporters that the memorial will “end up being ripped down” unless major renovations are undertaken. A photo circulating on social media shows a tarp covering the building’s name where Trump’s name was previously displayed, though his name has since been removed. The bill’s supporters argue that without congressional oversight, presidential memorials could be vulnerable to unilateral destruction. Lee’s objection, however, prevents the bill from advancing via expedited unanimous consent, though it could still be brought to the floor through regular procedures.

This development follows a series of legislative actions in the Senate, including the recent passage of the Protect College Sports Act, a major overhaul of college athletics related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments for student athletes. The Kennedy Center bill’s blockage highlights ongoing partisan tensions over presidential legacies and the limits of executive power. As the congressional correspondent for the Deseret News, Cami covers national news with a focus on policy issues affecting Utah and the West, and she notes that Lee’s objection raises questions about the future of bipartisan efforts to safeguard national memorials.