December 23, 2025
Mrs. McClain Delaney (for herself, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mrs. Hayes, and Mrs. Grijalva) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To require the removal of any signage or other identification from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that differs from the designation John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
, as designated under section 3 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76i), and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Kennedy Center Protection Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Congress established the National Cultural Center in 1958 to present musical programs, lectures, and other arts programs for youth and the elderly.
(2)
Our 35th President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was particularly devoted to the advancement of the performing arts within the United States.
(3)
Congress statutorily renamed the National Cultural Center the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
in 1964 following President Kennedy’s untimely death.
(4)
On February 7, 2025, President Trump announced his intention to terminate members of the Kennedy Center and appoint himself as chair, an unprecedented action.
(5)
On December 18, 2025, it was announced that the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted unanimously to rename the Center The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
.
(6)
Congress itself established the Kennedy Center and its Board of Trustees, and such a vote of the Board is clearly beyond its statutory authority.
(7)
The renaming of any Federal building for a sitting President signals a slide towards authoritarianism.
(8)
Congress itself retains sole authority to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through statute.
Sec. 3. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
(a) In general
The reported vote of the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 18, 2025, renaming the Center as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
is hereby void.
(b) Removal
Not later than 1 day after the date of enactment of this Act, the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shall remove any signage or other identification from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that differs from the designation John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
, as designated under section 3 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76i).
(c) References
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, publication, signage, or other record of the United States to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts changed after the vote described in subsection (a) shall return to the name John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
.
(d) Restriction on Board authority
Section 5 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76k) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(h) Restrictions on Board authority
The Board may not undertake any vote or proposal or authorize any action to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
(e) Reporting on funds used
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shall submit to Congress a report detailing any public or private funds used to install, alter, or implement the change in the name of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.