The National Constitution Center (NCC) in Philadelphia has been thrown into turmoil following the sudden departure of its president, Jeffrey Rosen, a legal scholar praised for his non-partisan approach. Rosen stepped down after 12 years, to be replaced on an interim basis by Vince Stango. The museum is the only one dedicated to the US constitution and is preparing for the 250th anniversary of US independence in July 2026.
Rosen, 61, was central to the centre's scholarly output, public programming, and global profile, personally overseeing much of the educational content for the anniversary. Some at the NCC felt that while Rosen excelled as a public intellectual, he showed less appetite for management duties, prompting the change. However, one board member, retired federal appeals court judge J Michael Luttig, alleges political motives behind the ousting, linking it to Donald Trump and the anniversary celebrations.
Luttig claims that former chair Doug DeVos and successor Mike George created a false 'crisis' to push Rosen out. However, several sources at the centre deny any political involvement, insisting the transition was voluntary. Stango stated that Rosen decided to step down to focus on personal scholarship, and that the board supported his decision.
The centre has experienced acrimonious months, with DeVos and George hiring an external lawyer to interview staff about workplace issues. In December, the executive committee voted unanimously to accept Rosen's resignation after he tendered it, reportedly expecting it to be refused. Luttig circulated detailed emails alleging withheld information, but others dispute this. The full board voted on 7 January to accept the resignation, with Luttig claiming many members were unprepared for the vote.
