Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has sent a letter to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts detailing allegations from whistleblowers that renovations were rushed and federal contracting laws ignored to prepare for events, including Donald Trump's receipt of the Fifa peace prize during the World Cup draw in December 2025.
Whistleblower Allegations
The Rhode Island Democrat wrote in a letter dated Thursday that the allegations stem from a whistleblower disclosure submitted by the Government Accountability Project, conveying firsthand accounts of multiple former center project managers supported by documents and photographs. The disclosure describes conduct sharply at odds with procurement standards the center has long applied and representations made to Congress.
Among the claims: a rushed revamp of the center's Reflecting Pool is already rusting and peeling, requiring a full rebuild; Trump's preferred contractor cut corners repainting columns, leaving taxpayers with repair bills; an $8 million no-bid flooring contract went to a firm with no concert-hall experience; and the center tore out a brand-new bathroom floor because Trump disliked the color.
Contracting Rules Rewritten
Whitehouse said whistleblowers alleged the Kennedy Center rewrote its own contracting rules to justify no-bid contracts for rushed renovations. The allegations raise serious questions about leadership and financial management, and whether representations to Congress were made in good faith.
“Instead of pursuing renovations tailored to the building’s actual needs, the Center rushed a series of renovations driven by the President’s aesthetic whims and his desire to star in televised events in December,” Whitehouse said. “This is waste, and it treats a national memorial to President Kennedy as if it were a private renovation project.”
Center and White House Responses
The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for 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 are not correct. “As America’s cultural center, the institution makes every decision guided by responsible stewardship,” said spokesperson Roma Daravi, a former White House communications staffer under Trump.
The White House also did not respond to a request for comment, but a spokesperson told the Times that Trump provided bold leadership and proper resources to fix the Kennedy Center after decades of neglect.
Last year, Trump secured $257 million from Congress for repairs and restoration at the center.
Congressional Reaction
Representative Rick Larsen, senior Democrat on the House infrastructure committee, called the allegations serious and concerning, urging the Board of Trustees to ensure the $257 million is used for legitimate repairs rather than cosmetic fixes.
