President Donald Trump's administration said Friday that it is exploring whether the federal government can take control of the 9/11 memorial and museum in New York City. The White House confirmed the administration has had "preliminary exploratory discussions" about the idea, but declined to elaborate. The office noted the Republican pledged during his campaign last year to make the site a national monument, protected and maintained by the federal government. But officials at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum say the federal government, under current laws, can't unilaterally take over the site, which is located on land owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The U.S. government shouldering costs and management of the site also "makes no sense," given Trump's efforts to dramatically pare back the federal bureaucracy, said Beth Hillman, the organization's president and CEO.