A Democratic senator has raised concerns over alleged construction issues at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, citing whistleblower reports of rushed renovations driven by President Donald Trump's directives. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, in a statement on Saturday, claimed that the Government Accountability Project provided him with a disclosure alleging that the Center expedited renovations to accommodate the President's aesthetic preferences and televised events. The whistleblower report detailed structural problems, including rusting steel columns, a potentially flawed reflecting pool, and a bathroom floor removed due to tile color disputes. The Kennedy Center has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Trump assumed control of the Kennedy Center at the start of his second term, replacing its leadership with a new Board of Trustees that named him chairman and added his name to the building. Democrats challenged this move, leading to a federal court ruling that Trump's name must be removed. The Center faced boycotts from artists during the turmoil, and Trump attempted to close it for two years before a court ordered it to remain open, citing Congress's authority over its name. Whitehouse has sent a letter to the Center's executive director, Matt Floca, demanding answers by July 23.