America's historic preservation law is in peril, advocates say. Here's what's at stake

Oct 15, 2026 · Rachel Treisman

Originally published by NPR News Read the original

America's historic preservation law is in peril, advocates say. Here's what's at stake

Historic preservation advocates say the Grand Canyon and Arlington Memorial Bridge — where President Trump wants to build a 250-foot arch — are examples of historic sites that would lose protection under the proposed changes.

Congress and a federal agency are threatening to weaken the country's historic preservation law, fueling a backlash that critics say is as fiery as the one that led to the law's creation 60 years ago.