D.C. Mayor Plans Redesign of Black Lives Matter Plaza Amid Federal Funding Threats

Mayor Muriel Bowser announces a new mural project for the plaza as Republicans push to rename it and propose withholding funds from the District.

Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that Black Lives Matter Plaza will be redesigned as part of D.C.'s America 250 mural project, set to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026.
Republican Representative Andrew Clyde introduced legislation to rename the plaza to 'Liberty Plaza' and threatened to withhold federal transportation funding if the change is not made.
The plaza, established in 2020 during protests following George Floyd's death, features the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' painted in yellow on 16th Street near the White House.
Bowser emphasized the need to focus on economic growth and public safety in light of federal job cuts, calling congressional interference over the plaza 'meaningless.'
The redesign plan is part of a broader effort to involve students and artists in creating new murals across all eight wards of Washington, D.C.