The Trump administration is considering major changes to the federal review process that protects historic and culturally significant places from the effects of construction and infrastructure projects. Critics say the proposals could make it easier to advance projects such as President Trump’s planned 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery, while reducing protections for sites nationwide; supporters within the administration argue the existing process causes uncertainty and delays.

The proposed rewrite of Section 106 of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act would narrow which places and effects qualify for review, make public participation optional and remove mandatory consultation with Native American tribes. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, where Trump controls 21 of 24 members, gave members one week to vote on advancing the draft; it would still require further federal review and an approximately 30-day public-comment period before taking effect. The National Register contains more than 100,000 properties and over 1.8 million buildings, structures, sites, objects and districts.