1. United States
2. Letter

Mr. President, I am writing to you because of your Administration’s recent court filings that threaten to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts if the President is not allowed to have his name predominately associated with renovations or the building. Federal law establishes the Kennedy Center as a national memorial to President John F. Kennedy, which was created and is currently overseen by Congress. Congress gave the Center its name, and only Congress has the authority to change it or authorize major alterations to the building or grounds. The President has no unilateral authority to destroy or fundamentally alter this national memorial. These threats to demolish a federally established living memorial if recognition demands are not met are unacceptable and undermine the separation of powers and the rule of law.