Whistleblower accuses Kennedy Center of rushed renovations to appease Trump

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse released a whistleblower letter alleging the Kennedy Center bypassed contracting rules and rushed cosmetic renovations to please Donald Trump, with no-bid deals and expensive, supposedly unnecessary work (painting columns white, tile removal) that critics say wasted taxpayer money; costs cited include a $4.4 million deal awarded after work began and about $1.5 million in repairs, plus an $8 million contract for an experienced contractor. A May court ruling later required Trump’s name to come off the building, underscoring Congress’s authority over the center. The episode is framed as part of broader Trump reshaping of Washington, including personnel changes at the Kennedy Center board.