Politics > Washington D.C.

America has already moved our capital several times, and there isn’t any reason we cannot do it again.

Jason McNew | May 21, 2026

What if we moved our National Capital inland from the East Coast?

Nation states have routinely moved their capitals throughout history. We have done it before, and we should do it again.

Prior to 1800, our National Capital moved 11 times, operating out of seven different American cities -- Philadelphia PA, Baltimore MD, Lancaster PA, York PA, Princeton, NJ, Annapolis MD, Trenton NJ, and New York, NY. Philadelphia served the longest at 15 years, with New York City coming in second at five years. The remaining cities served only a few months; Lancaster but for a single day -- September 27, 1777.

Following passage of The Residence Act of 1790, “An Act for Establishing the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States” our capital operated (for the second time) out of Philadelphia for ten years while Washington D.C. proper was surveyed, designed, and erected.

Congressional authorization for the Residence Act comes directly from Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution:

“To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States…”

“To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States…”

While there was vigorous debate and some compromise on the site of our new capital, a location centrally located........

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