S-3622-119
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sponsored by Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
What it does
This bill would prohibit naming, renaming, designating, or redesignating any federal building, land, or other federal asset after a sitting President, and would bar federal funds from being used for such a purpose. Any federal property already renamed after the sitting President as of enactment would be reverted to its prior legally designated name.
Who benefits
The general public interest in preventing use of federal properties for self-commemoration by an incumbent President; future Presidents seeking naming honors would still be eligible only after leaving office, consistent with long-standing practice for most federal namings.
Who is hurt
A sitting President who might otherwise seek to have federal property named in their honor while in office; agencies or localities that may have already initiated a renaming process honoring the current President would need to revert those names, incurring modest administrative and signage costs.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that naming federal property after a sitting President creates an appearance of self-promotion using taxpayer resources and blurs the line between public service and personal legacy-building. They contend this bill simply codifies the traditional norm that such honors are typically reserved for after a President leaves office or passes away, preventing potential misuse of naming authority for political ego rather than genuine historical merit.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that Congress already has full discretion over federal naming decisions on a case-by-case basis, making a blanket statutory prohibition unnecessary and potentially symbolic legislation targeting a narrow issue. They contend the bill could be seen as a pointed political statement aimed at a specific President rather than neutral policy, and that reverting already-completed namings could create unnecessary administrative costs and legal complications for affected agencies.
Constitutional context
Congress has broad authority under the Property Clause (Art. IV, §3, cl. 2) and its general legislative powers to determine how federal buildings and lands are named, an area traditionally handled through ordinary legislation with no constitutional constraint on Congress's discretion.
Checks and balances
Congress would restrict its own and executive agencies' future naming discretion through statute, with no shift of power toward the executive or judiciary; agencies implementing renamings would simply follow the new statutory restriction.
Historical precedent
Congress has periodically passed individual laws naming or renaming specific federal buildings, but a categorical statutory ban on naming property after a sitting President does not have a clear direct precedent.