By — Gary Fields, Associated Press Gary Fields, Associated Press By — Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-washington-projects-are-a-likely-casualty-as-democrats-claim-congress Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump's Washington projects are a likely casualty as Democrats claim Congress Politics Nov 6, 2026 11:45 AM EST WASHINGTON (AP) — In his first public appearance after an election that soundly repudiated his policies, President Donald Trump turned to a topic both familiar and, given the context, surprising: not his policies or politics but his efforts to remake pieces of the city that is the backdrop to his presidency. READ MORE: Trump makes the Oval Office a national monument, but future presidents can still redecorate Despite Trump's affinity for project management, though, with Democrats taking control of Congress, the work his administration is doing to change the physical face of the District of Columbia is sure to encounter far more roadblocks than it did for the first two years of his second term. From the renaming of and renovation plans for…
Trump's Washington projects are a likely casualty as Democrats claim Congress
In short
The change in congressional leadership hands Democrats the power to direct appropriations and appoint the House general counsel. Lawmakers like Rep. Jared Huffman plan to deploy committee investigative authority to challenge the administration's capital initiatives, while Virginia Rep. Don Beyer targets federal spending to block a monument slated for Memorial Circle. Despite the pushback, the National Capital Planning Commission granted final approval to the 250-foot arch after a marathon session featuring more than 120 witnesses.
Key points
- Democratic control of Congress will disrupt executive efforts to alter landmark sites acr…: Democratic control of Congress will disrupt executive efforts to alter landmark sites across Washington, D.C.
- Incoming committee chairs plan to halt ongoing architectural developments through spendin…: Incoming committee chairs plan to halt ongoing architectural developments through spending curbs and aggressive committee oversight.
- Securing the House majority gives Democrats the legal authority to name the chamber's gen…: Securing the House majority gives Democrats the legal authority to name the chamber's general counsel and steer federal spending.