U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, and Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, have introduced legislation prohibiting the sale of federally owned historic properties without congressional approval.

Titled the Civil Rights Landmark Act, the bill states that no federal official can sell a federal landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places without a resolution from Congress approving the sale.

The two democratic lawmakers promised to file the legislation last week after President Donald Trump’s administration put a historic Alabama civil rights landmark up for sale.

On March 4, the Government Services Administration posted on its website a list of “non-core” federal properties to be sold by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Among those properties was the Montgomery Bus Station which houses the Freedom Rides Museum.

A day later the GSA removed the list from its website but has not officially stated whether the civil rights landmark could potentially be sold.

Figures and Sewell sent a letter to the GSA on March 6, urging the agency to remove the civil rights landmark from its list.

“The Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station, which is in my district, is a historic landmark that should be protected,” Figures said.

“Former Congressman John Lewis and many other civil rights activists were nearly killed at this bus station for simply fighting for their constitutional rights. This landmark, and many others like it, are part of the story of America and we should not allow the Trump Administration—or any Administration—to simply sell it away.”

On Monday, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala, said that after talking to the Trump administration she was informed that the bus station and museum will not be on GSA’s non-core list.

Figures said that they were working with Britt on the matter but were waiting on official confirmation from the White House or GSA that the landmark was safe.

Sewell said the new legislation would prevent Trump or Elon Musk, the figurehead of DOGE, from selling, “our civil rights history.”

“Our historic civil rights landmarks are not just Black history,” Sewell said. “They are not just Alabama history. They are American history, and they deserve to be protected for future generations.

“After all, if we are to avoid repeating our painful past, we need to remember it, acknowledge it, and learn from it. Rest assured, Congressman Figures and I will not sit by and let Donald Trump, Elon Musk, or anyone else sell off historic landmarks like the Freedom Rides Museum to the highest bidder. Our civil rights history is not for sale.”