Sponsors
The bill requires the Park Service to begin arranging a new Mount Rushmore carving—potentially adding a tourist draw and government work—but does so without funding and at the risk of diverting park resources, harming the environment, and politicizing a national memorial.
Federal employees in the National Park Service will be tasked to begin arranging and coordinating a new carving at Mount Rushmore, creating government work activity related to the project.
Visitors and nearby communities could gain a new attraction if the additional figure is completed, potentially increasing tourism and educational opportunities at Mount Rushmore.
Taxpayers nationwide could incur unspecified costs because the Department of the Interior is required to arrange the carving but the section provides no dedicated funding source.
The carving could physically alter a protected public landform, posing potential environmental and conservation harms to local landscapes, ecosystems, and recreational values.
National Park Service staff may have to divert time and resources from other park management duties to coordinate the carving, reducing capacity for routine operations and visitor services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Anna Luna · Last progress January 28, 2025
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, to arrange for carving a figure of President Donald J. Trump into the face of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The mandate requires the Department to carry out and arrange the physical carving but does not provide funding, a timeline, process details, or legal exceptions.