A new proposal from House Republicans would withhold federal funding from American cities and states that have chosen to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in place of Columbus Day, reigniting a national debate over history, heritage, and identity.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s proclamation last week reaffirming October 13 as Columbus Day, in a ceremony that drew spontaneous applause from members of his cabinet and widespread praise from Italian-American groups across the country.
“This is about every son and daughter of Italy, every Knights of Columbus, every pasta dinner on Sunday, and every communion,” Rulli told Fox News Digital. “Everything that makes our culture who we are, from Philadelphia to San Francisco.”
The Legislation: Funding Tied to Federal Holiday Recognition
Rulli’s bill would formally reaffirm Columbus Day as a federal holiday and penalize jurisdictions that have removed or replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day — a change that has grown more common in recent years, especially in left-leaning cities and states.
“We are not going to allow any American municipality to think that they have power over the federal government,” Rulli said.
The proposal would cut off certain discretionary funds to jurisdictions that do not observe Columbus Day, although the specific categories of funding affected have not yet been detailed in the public draft.
Culture Clash: Columbus, Italian-Americans, and Historical Reckoning
Columbus Day has been celebrated as a federal holiday since 1937, but its roots stretch back to 1892, when it was established in part to honor Italian Americans following the lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans — one of the largest mass lynchings in American history.
To Rulli and many Italian Americans, Columbus Day is not just about Christopher Columbus himself but a broader celebration of Italian heritage, cultural survival, and national contribution.
“It’s so much more than the man,” Rulli emphasized. “It’s the people.”
But critics argue that Columbus’s arrival marked the beginning of centuries of violence, genocide, and displacement for Indigenous peoples across the Americas. In 2021, Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.
Progressive activists have pushed for Indigenous Peoples Day as a way to honor Native American history, culture, and resilience — often to the exclusion of Columbus, whom they view as a symbol of colonialism and oppression.
Rulli: Indigenous Americans Deserve Their Own Day — But Not This One
While the bill has already drawn criticism from some advocacy groups, Rep. Rulli insists the legislation is not anti-Indigenous.
“By no means, no way, shape or form, is this bill meant to offend any of the indigenous people,” he said. “They deserve their own day. We will get them their own day, but not Columbus Day.”
He added, “The Native Americans are some of the most amazing, dynamic cultural people that make up the fabric of America. But they need their own special day.”
Rulli suggested he would support efforts to create a new national holiday to honor Indigenous peoples — but maintained that Columbus Day should remain undisturbed as a cornerstone of Italian-American identity and American tradition.
Trump’s Role: A Cultural “Olive Branch”
President Trump’s recent proclamation restoring Columbus Day’s traditional meaning has energized many within the Italian-American community, particularly as Democrats in recent years have embraced efforts to shift away from Columbus celebrations.
“If you come from Italian-American descent, you love what President Trump did,” Rulli said. “It was a wonderful olive branch to all Italian Americans.”
During the ceremony last week, Trump described Columbus as a visionary explorer whose legacy should be celebrated, not erased. His administration’s position is in direct contrast with the Biden administration’s attempt to share the day between Columbus and Indigenous heritage, a decision Rulli called “confusing” and “disrespectful to both communities.”
What’s Next?
Rulli’s bill is expected to face fierce opposition from Democrats, and it remains unclear whether it can pass the House. But it is already serving as a symbolic political line in the sand, aligning with broader GOP efforts to stifle what they describe as woke revisions of American history.
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Actually, the founders name was Christapher Colon! When he was young, he was captured by other side after a naval battle, so he used the name of his dead friend, Christoper Columbo. His ancestor today in Spain goes by the family name, Colon.