President Donald Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes has moved a step closer following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The bill, which was passed by Congress on Thursday, includes a provision for $40 million to be left available for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the “procurement of statues” through the fiscal year 2028.
Newsweek contacted the NEH via email for comment.
Alex Brandon/AP
Why It Matters
The sculpture garden is one of Trump’s key priorities ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year. It was first announced in an Executive Order during his first term in 2021.
The order said that the garden would be built to “reflect the awesome splendor of our country’s timeless exceptionalism.”
The order added: “It will be a place where citizens, young and old, can renew their vision of greatness and take up the challenge that I gave every American in my first address to Congress, to ‘believe in yourselves, believe in your future, and believe, once more, in America.'”
What To Know
The NEH said in April that the garden will feature life-size statues of 250 “great individuals from America’s past who have contributed to our cultural, scientific, economic, and political heritage.”
It added that it will “create a public space where Americans can gather to learn about and honor American heroes.”
The agency said it would give selected artists awards of up to $200,000 per statue for the design and creation of up to three works made of marble, granite, bronze, copper, or brass.
The NEH said the designs must represent “historical significant” figures identified by Executive Order 13978, including individuals such as John Adams, Clara Barton, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Douglas MacArthur, Martin Luther King Jr., and Christa McAuliffe. Around 240 names were listed in total.
Artists, who were required to be U.S. citizens, had until July 1 to submit their applications.
What People Are Saying
Acting NEH Chairman Michael McDonald said in April: “NEH is pleased to collaborate with NEA to bring to fruition the vision of a National Garden of American Heroes. The garden will provide the public with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how the lives and accomplishments of these individuals have shaped our history and culture.”
Trump said in 2021: “The National Garden is America’s answer to this reckless attempt to erase our heroes, values, and entire way of life. On its grounds, the devastation and discord of the moment will be overcome with abiding love of country and lasting patriotism. This is the American way. When the forces of anti-Americanism have sought to burn, tear down, and destroy, patriots have built, rebuilt, and lifted up. That is our history. America responded to the razing of the White House by building it back in the same place with unbroken resolve, to the murders of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr., with a national temple and the Stone of Hope, and to the terrorism of 9/11 with a new Freedom Tower.”
He added: “In keeping with this tradition, America is responding to the tragic toppling of monuments to our founding generation and the giants of our past by commencing a new national project for their restoration, veneration, and celebration.”
Justin Shubow, president of the National Civic Art Society, told CNN: “No one wants an outdoor Madame Tussauds museum and it appears that the administration is taking the right steps to make sure that we get beautiful, inspiring works of art.”
What Happens Next
It is not yet clear where the garden will be built, or when construction will begin.
But the NEH said in April that the garden would be built ahead of the 250th anniversary of Independence Day in 2026.
