HJRES 133: Requesting the Secretary of the Interior to authorize unique and one-time arrangements for displays on the National Mall and the Washington Monument during the period beginning on December 31, 2025, and ending on January 5, 2026.

HJRES 133 in plain English: This joint resolution requests the Department of the Interior to allow special, one-time displays of materials related to the U.S. semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) — including artifacts, digital content, film footage, and audio — on and around the National Mall and Washington Monument from December 31, 2025 through January 5, 2026.

Stated purpose

To request that the Department of the Interior allow special, one-time displays of U.S. 250th anniversary materials — including artifacts, digital content, and video projections onto the Washington Monument — on the National Mall from December 31, 2025 through January 5, 2026.

Key points

• Authorizes unique, one-time displays on the National Mall and Washington Monument for a set period
• Covers semiquincentennial materials, artifacts, digital content, film footage, and related audio and imagery
• Display period runs from December 31, 2025 to January 5, 2026

Arguments supporters make

• Marking the start of America's 250th anniversary year with a major national event honors the country's founding in a meaningful and historic way, just as similar events marked the bicentennial in 1976.
• A free, large-scale public event on the National Mall is open to all Americans and brings people together around shared history, regardless of background or politics.
• The 2019 Apollo 11 anniversary event on the Mall drew over 500,000 visitors using a similar format, showing this kind of celebration has broad public appeal and proven success.

Arguments opponents make

• Projecting imagery onto the Washington Monument and placing displays on the Mall is a departure from normal preservation standards, and repeated exceptions could set a precedent that puts these historic landmarks at greater risk.
• Organizing a major multi-day event on the National Mall requires significant public resources and staffing from federal agencies, raising questions about cost and priorities.
• Authorizing specific event content and themes through a Congressional resolution blurs the line between a nonpartisan national celebration and a government-promoted political or cultural message.

Tradeoffs

Allowing a unique, one-time public commemoration creates a shared national moment but requires granting exceptions to standard rules protecting the Washington Monument and National Mall from commercial or special-use displays.

Current status in Congress: Became law.

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