Restore the Kennedy Center's Independence and Remove Trump's Name

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to restore the Kennedy Center's independence and remove President Trump's name from the building. The recent renaming to "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" violates federal law and represents an unprecedented political takeover of a cultural institution that belongs to all Americans. Congress passed legislation in 1964 explicitly naming the center as a living memorial to President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. That law specifically prohibits the board of trustees from making the center a memorial to anyone else or placing another person's name on the building's exterior. Legal scholars, including former House historian Ray Smock, confirm that any name changes require Congressional approval, not just board action. Trump's handpicked board has acted illegally. The consequences of this takeover are already devastating the institution's mission. Longtime drummer and vibraphone player Chuck Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam concert after more than 20 years of tradition when he saw Trump's name added to the building. Numerous other artists have boycotted performances, including Issa Rae, Peter Wolf, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who canceled a planned production of Hamilton. These cancellations harm both the arts community and the audiences who depend on the Kennedy Center for world-class performances. Trump has forced out the center's leadership, overhauled the board while arranging to head it himself, and personally hosted this year's Kennedy Center honors, breaking the longstanding tradition of presidents serving primarily as spectators. This is not about partisan politics. It is about protecting a cultural institution from illegal political interference. I urge you to introduce or support legislation that restores the Kennedy Center's original name, reinstates its independent governance structure, and prevents future administrations from similar overreach. The Kennedy Center must remain what Congress intended: a memorial to President Kennedy and a space for artistic excellence free from political control.