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Congress' Spending Bill Keeps Kennedy Center Name, Sidestepping Trump-Appointed Board Rebrand

The new funding text signals Congress has not accepted the trustees’ December vote to append President Trump’s name.

Overview

  • The bipartisan appropriations package released Monday refers to the institution as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and allocates $32.34 million for operations, maintenance, and security through September 2027.
  • In December, a Trump-installed board voted to add his name to the building and updated exterior signage and the website to reflect the change.
  • A 1964 federal law designates the venue as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy and bars adding another person’s name to the exterior without congressional action.
  • The board’s renaming vote is being challenged in federal court, keeping the legality of the move in active dispute.
  • The spending package has completed conference but still requires House and Senate approval before the January 30 funding deadline.