(Nexstar) – The Megaville bill is anticipated to pass through the House on Thursday, encompassing a range of topics like overtime costs, student loans, and significant Medicaid cuts, among other regulatory modifications.
A notable aspect of the bill is the $40 million earmarked for a project dubbed “The Garden of Heroes,” aimed at marking the United States’ upcoming 250th birthday.
What is the “Hero’s Garden”?
This year, former President Donald Trump initiated efforts to revitalize the concept of a “National Garden of American Heroes,” a project he initially proposed during his first term.
According to a 2020 executive order, Trump envisioned the unveiling of a statue garden on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the nation’s 250th birthday. In a 2020 address at Mount Rushmore, he criticized what he termed “angry mobs” for trying to erase history, in response to a cultural backlash surrounding various monuments.
This occurred shortly after George Floyd’s murder, a time when numerous statues—including those honoring figures tied to slavery—were being targeted across the country.
The initiative had previously stalled due to a lack of funding and was effectively halted in 2021 under President Joe Biden.
Upon returning to office in January, Trump expressed urgency in resurrecting the project.
What will “The Garden of Heroes” look like?
Trump’s original executive order mentioned that statues, which should be “realistic,” could be sourced from local groups, businesses, and private individuals.
The National Fund for the Humanities, which is overseeing applications for the project, indicates that the life-sized statues could be crafted from materials like marble or bronze, with qualifying projects eligible for grants up to $600,000.
Although the final location of the Hero’s Garden is not yet revealed, Trump emphasized that it should be situated in areas of “natural beauty” near major population centers. South Dakota Governor Larry Roden even proposed Mount Rushmore’s Black Hills as a fitting site for the project.
Who will be honored in “The Garden of Heroes”?
The specific individuals to be commemorated in the garden have not been detailed in either Trump’s executive order or the current Megaville bill.
However, Trump’s 2020 order listed 244 potential figures, including notable names like Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, and Martin Luther King Jr.
After the list was released, some historians raised eyebrows at certain inclusions, describing some as “strange” or “provocative.” For instance, the decision to feature Woody Guthrie, who had a complicated relationship with Trump’s family, was critiqued by reporters as problematic.
What is the estimated cost of the “Hero’s Garden”?
While the Megaville bill, which is currently progressing through the Senate, allocates $40 million for the project, other funding opportunities from the National Fund for the Arts contribute an additional $34 million.
Will Trump’s Megaville pass?
Despite potential opposition, Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries expressed optimism about the bill’s future. The bipartisan nature of its support could allow it to reach President Trump’s desk.
The margin for passing may be slim, as Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose three votes if all members participate in the final decisions, but there’s still confidence the bill will succeed.
This outcome would mark a significant win for Trump and the Republican Party, converging various priority initiatives into what he calls “one big beautiful bill,” comprising over 800 pages. With Democratic opposition lined up against it, the bill serves as a pivotal piece of legislation as Trump aims to regain a stronghold in Congress.
