Backlash Grows Over Alleged Renaming of the Kennedy Center 

Blue Press Journal – Reports of a potential renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have sparked strong pushback from lawmakers and the Kennedy family. 

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who previously served on the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, has filed suit against the Trump administration over the move, arguing that it violates the center’s founding legislation. Beatty contends that the name is protected under federal law, and that any change would undermine the institution’s historical and cultural significance. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) echoed those concerns, calling the name change “illegal” and warning that the law requires congressional approval for any alteration. 

The Kennedy family has also publicly condemned the proposal, pointing to the center’s role as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and a symbol of the nation’s commitment to the arts. Created by an act of Congress in 1958 and officially named for Kennedy in 1964, the center has long been a focal point of Washington’s cultural life. 

Under the Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. § 76h), Congress retains authority over the institution’s name, structure, and mission. Legal experts note that any unilateral executive action to rename the center would likely face significant constitutional and statutory challenges. 

With litigation pending and political opposition mounting, the future of the Kennedy Center’s name will likely be decided in the courts — or in Congress.