Trump administration weighing federal takeover of 9/11 memorial in New York

President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed Friday it is exploring whether the federal government could assume control of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in lower Manhattan.

The site, opened in 2014 and run by a nonprofit chaired by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, honors the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Trump had previously pledged during his campaign to make the memorial a national monument.

The White House said “preliminary exploratory discussions” have taken place but gave no details.

Officials at the memorial emphasized that under current law the federal government cannot unilaterally take over the site, which sits on land owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Beth Hillman, the memorial’s president and CEO, said federal control “makes no sense” and stressed that the institution has successfully raised $750 million in private funding and welcomed 90 million visitors.

Last year, it generated $93 million in revenue and closed with a surplus.

New York governor Kathy Hochul voiced concern about federal involvement, warning against political influence over how history is presented.

“The 9/11 Memorial belongs to New Yorkers — the families, survivors, and first responders who have carried this legacy for more than two decades,” she said.

Families of victims remain divided, with some praising the museum’s exhibitions and others criticizing ticket prices or exhibit content.