Military sites honoring Confederates can’t be renamed without further action from Congress

The debate over renaming military sites which honor Confederate leaders will return to Capitol Hill in coming weeks after defense officials said Congress needs to approve additional authorities allowing them to make those changes.

As part of legislative proposals sent to Capitol Hill this month connected to the fiscal 2023 budget request, Defense Department officials said they need new action by lawmakers to finalize the work of the Pentagon’s Confederate renaming commission, which was mandated by Congress two years ago.