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H.R. 10055119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Aug 6, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Congressional Authorization for Federal Building Names Act
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
Only Congress could rename federal properties, and officials who defy this could face up to 10 years in prison.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
This bill requires that renaming federal property—like buildings, monuments, or other sites named by federal law—can only be done through a new law passed by Congress, ending administrative renaming by agency heads or appointees. It also creates a new crime for political appointees or Senate-confirmed officials who display incorrect names or rename property without Congress's approval, with penalties tied to the cost of damage caused. The criminal provision takes effect January 1, 2027, with a 10-year window for prosecution.
Federal agencies, political appointees, and Senate-confirmed officials who oversee federal buildings, parks, military bases, or other named properties.
The change shifts all naming authority to Congress, removing executive branch discretion and adding criminal risk for officials who act without legislative approval, which could affect future disputes over renaming sites tied to historical figures.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.