Final answer:
The government removed Richard Serra's controversial sculpture Tilted Arc from the Federal Plaza in New York City in 1989 after public debates and lawsuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government decided to remove Richard Serra's sculpture Tilted Arc after it became a source of controversy. Initially installed in 1981 at the Federal Plaza in New York City, the Tilted Arc was a public art installation that created significant debate over its aesthetic value and the public's interaction with art. Finally, in 1989, the sculpture was dismantled despite public hearings and lawsuits aimed at preserving it. Through this contentious process, debates regarding public art, its place in the community, and the power of government decisions around the arts were brought to the forefront. The case of Tilted Arc is often discussed in conversations about public art and censorship.