Key Takeaways:
- The Kennedy Center’s original name is enshrined in legislation from the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations, making it difficult to change without a new law.
- A new law passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president would be needed to change the name of the Kennedy Center.
- The Trump administration installed the president’s name on the building despite legal concerns and objections from lawmakers in both parties.
- Democratic lawmakers have vowed to hold the administration accountable for violating the law and attempting to rename the center without congressional action.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Kennedy Center, a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, has been at the center of a controversy over its name. The Trump administration recently installed the president’s name on the building, sparking outrage from lawmakers in both parties. However, legal experts have warned that the center’s original name is enshrined in legislation from the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations, making it difficult to change without a new law. This has led to a heated debate over the legality of the name change and the administration’s authority to make such a decision.
The Legal Concerns
According to legal experts, a new law passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president would be needed to change the name of the Kennedy Center. This is because the center’s original name is embedded in federal law, making it a statutory requirement. The experts have warned that attempting to change the name without following the proper legislative process would be a violation of the law. Former Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, a grandnephew of the late president, has also weighed in on the issue, stating that the center "is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”
Lawmakers’ Objections
Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in their objections to the name change, with six ex-officio members of the Kennedy Center board releasing a statement condemning the administration’s actions. The lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, argued that the administration is attempting to affix the president’s name to the center without legal authority. They also pointed out that federal law established the center as a memorial to President Kennedy and prohibits changing its name without congressional action. The lawmakers have vowed to hold the administration accountable for violating the law and attempting to rename the center without congressional action.
Republican Senators’ Views
Some Republican senators have also expressed reservations about the name change, with Sen. Shelly Moore Capito stating that she believes the name would have to be changed through legislation in Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also said that the issue would be looked into, acknowledging that there are questions about whether the name change requires new legislation. However, it remains to be seen whether the Republican-led Senate will take action to block the name change or allow it to stand.
Dispute Over the Board Vote
There is also a dispute over the board vote that allegedly approved the name change. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board, has disputed the president’s assertion that the board vote was "unanimous," claiming that a name change wasn’t on the agenda distributed before the meeting and that she was repeatedly muted on a video call when she sought to raise her concerns about it. The center’s vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, has responded by stating that Beatty is not a voting member of the board and that she was granted the "privilege" to listen into the meeting. However, the incident has raised questions about the transparency and legitimacy of the board’s decision-making process.
Conclusion
The controversy over the Kennedy Center’s name change highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and lawmakers in both parties. The administration’s attempts to install the president’s name on the building have been met with fierce resistance, with many arguing that the move is a violation of the law and an attempt to politicize a national monument. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the administration will be able to push through the name change or whether lawmakers will succeed in blocking it. One thing is certain, however: the Kennedy Center’s name has become a symbol of the ongoing struggle for power and control in Washington.
