Whistleblowers have alleged that renovations at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts were rushed and federal contracting laws were ignored to prepare for events including Donald Trump receiving the FIFA 'peace prize' during the World Cup draw in December 2025. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter detailing the allegations to the Kennedy Center on Thursday.
Whistleblower Allegations Detailed
Whitehouse wrote that the allegations stem from a disclosure submitted by the Government Accountability Project, including firsthand accounts from former project managers supported by documents and photographs. The disclosure claims that a cosmetic revamp of the Center's Reflecting Pool is already rusting and peeling and will need to be fully rebuilt. It also alleges that Trump's preferred contractor cut corners repainting columns, leaving taxpayers with repair bills.
Other claims include an $8 million no-bid flooring contract awarded to a firm with no concert-hall experience, and the removal of a brand-new bathroom floor because Trump disliked the tile color. Whistleblowers also said the Center rewrote its contracting rules to justify no-bid contracts for rushed renovations.
Senator Questions Leadership and Financial Management
Whitehouse, ranking member of the Senate environment and public works committee, stated the allegations raise serious questions about the Center's leadership and board's financial management. He said the Center rushed renovations driven by Trump's aesthetic whims and desire to star in televised events in December, instead of pursuing necessary repairs. 'This is waste, and it treats a national memorial to President Kennedy as if it were a private renovation project,' Whitehouse added.
Kennedy Center and White House Responses
The Kennedy Center did not immediately comment on Saturday but earlier defended its practices in a statement to the New York Times, saying it operates with rigorous financial oversight and that claims of bypassed contracting standards were incorrect. Spokesperson Roma Daravi, a former White House communications staffer under Trump, said the Center remains committed to transparency and responsible stewardship.
The White House also did not immediately comment but accused previous Kennedy Center leadership of allowing the center to fall into disrepair. A spokesperson said Trump provided bold leadership and resources to fix the center after decades of neglect.
Congressional Oversight
Whitehouse requested documents and answers from the Center's executive director by 23 July. Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), senior Democrat on the House infrastructure committee, called the allegations serious and concerning, urging the Board of Trustees to ensure $257 million approved by Congress for renovations are used for legitimate repairs rather than cosmetic fixes.
