Overview

• Congress set aside $40 million under the “Big Beautiful Bill” to fund the garden’s construction.
• President Trump’s 2025 executive order revives his 2021 plan to honor nearly 250 historical figures in life-size statues.
• The National Endowment for the Humanities has opened grants for artists to complete the sculptures by July 4, 2026.
• South Dakota has pitched the Black Hills near Mount Rushmore as the garden site and faces resistance from indigenous groups.
• Veteran artists warn the compressed timeline and logistical demands pose significant challenges for on-time delivery.