Congressional Democrats are warning that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other top officials could be held personally liable if the Trump administration proceeds with its plans for a massive triumphal arch in Washington.
In a Monday letter, Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats, and five other lawmakers urged the National Park Service to stop any administrative or physical work on the project planned for a traffic circle near Memorial Bridge, stating the scheme has not been approved by Congress.
“If the Administration believes the semiquincentennial warrants a permanent commemorative work in the capital, the path is open and well worn; it runs through Congress, as it has for every memorial since the Continental Congress approved the first, an equestrian statue of George Washington, in 1783,” wrote King, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, along with Sen. Martin Henrich (D-N.M.), ranking member of the full committee.
California Rep. Jared Huffman, top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee; Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), ranking member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee; and Reps. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) and Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) also signed the missive.
