Building the National Garden of American Heroes

2021-01-22Executive Order 13978
Signed by: Donald Trump
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Headline: Creates National Garden of American Heroes and Directs Its Construction

What it does: Federal agencies must identify a site, build the National Garden as authorized, fund and commission listed statues, and publish annual progress reports.

Real World Impact:
  • Requires the department that manages public lands to select a site and build the garden.
  • Sets funding duties including spending one‑twelfth of some arts and humanities funds on statues.
  • Requires annual public reports on progress and lists of commissioned or placed statues.
Topics: national monuments, public art, government spending, history and heritage, federal lands

Summary

This order directs creation and construction of the National Garden of American Heroes, a new national statuary park honoring listed Americans. The department that manages public lands must identify a suitable site and proceed with construction as allowed by law.

The Interior Department will provide funding consistent with available appropriations, and arts agencies are asked to target one‑twelfth of discretionary funds to commission statues. An interagency Task Force must publish annual public reports on progress and list statues commissioned or placed.

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