Kennedy Center renovations face Senate whistleblower probe over Trump‑linked contracts

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D‑RI) is expanding a Senate investigation after whistleblowers reported that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts accepted no‑bid contracts and rushed renovation work to suit President Donald Trump’s aesthetic preferences. Allegations include the removal of a newly installed bathroom floor because Trump disliked its colour, rusted steel columns being painted over, and an $8 million flooring contract awarded to a company lacking concert‑hall experience.

The Kennedy Center has disputed the claims, saying the renovations address years of deferred maintenance, are funded by appropriations secured during the Trump administration, and are not subject to Federal Acquisition Regulations. The centre also cited a recent federal court ruling confirming its procurement framework. Meanwhile, a Washington, D.C. judge ordered the venue to remove the Trump‑proposed name by June 12, and the Justice Department has argued the centre could lose hundreds of millions of dollars without Trump’s funding. Whitehouse has asked for a response by July 23, stressing that public funds must be spent lawfully and prudently.