As President Donald Trump and his appointees intensify legislative efforts that threaten historic sites and the artworks they contain, Democrats and preservation groups are seeking ways to push back with protective measures.
On July 24, the heavily Trump-appointed Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) moved forward with a proposal that could weaken legal safeguards for historic sites. By a 16–5 vote, the council approved revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal agencies to assess potential harm to historically significant places before launching construction projects.