Kennedy Center Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6925
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-03T09:06:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Kennedy Center Protection Act," aims to preserve the official name of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as established by Congress in 1964. It responds to a recent action by the Center's Board of Trustees to rename it by including a sitting president's name, declaring such a change unauthorized and voiding it to reaffirm congressional control over the institution's designation.
Key Provisions
- Voiding the Renaming Vote: The bill declares the Board of Trustees' December 18, 2025, vote to rename the Center as "The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" null and invalid.
- Immediate Removal of Signage: Within one day of the bill's enactment, the Trustees must remove any signs, labels, or other identifiers that do not match the original name "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."
- Reversion of References: All references to the Center in U.S. laws, maps, regulations, documents, publications, or records that were changed due to the vote must revert to the original name.
- Restriction on Future Actions: The bill amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to prohibit the Board from voting on, proposing, or authorizing any renaming of the Center.
- Reporting Requirement: Within 30 days of enactment, the Trustees must submit a report to Congress detailing any public or private funds spent on implementing the name change.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill adds a new subsection (h) to Section 5 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76k), explicitly limiting the Board's authority by barring it from any renaming efforts. This is the primary alteration, shifting control over the Center's name exclusively to Congress through statutory means.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The National Park Service (which manages the Center under federal law) and congressional committees (e.g., Transportation and Infrastructure) may need to oversee compliance, including signage updates and fund audits, potentially requiring minimal administrative resources.
- On Citizens: Limited direct effects, but it ensures the Center remains a publicly funded cultural venue honoring President Kennedy, preserving its historical and educational role in arts programs for youth and the elderly without political alterations.
- On International Relations: Negligible impact, though the Center hosts international performances, maintaining its neutral, Kennedy-associated branding could support U.S. cultural diplomacy without partisan connotations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- John F. Kennedy Center Board of Trustees: Directly required to act on removals, reporting, and future restrictions, limiting their decision-making power.
- Congress: Reinforces its legislative authority over federal institutions, with oversight committees handling referrals and reports.
- U.S. Government Entities: Including the executive branch (e.g., if involved in prior announcements) and agencies managing federal buildings.
- Public and Cultural Community: Arts organizations, performers, and visitors who interact with the Center, benefiting from stability in its identity.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill asserts that only Congress can rename federal buildings via statute (as with the 1964 renaming), invalidating non-statutory actions by appointed boards. This could set a precedent for challenging overreaches by federal institution boards.
- Constitutional Implications: Highlights separation of powers, with Congress reclaiming authority from executive-influenced entities (e.g., board appointments), ensuring legislative primacy in naming public assets tied to historical figures.
- Political Implications: The findings criticize actions by a sitting president and the board as unauthorized and a step toward authoritarianism, signaling a bipartisan effort (based on introducers) to protect nonpartisan cultural landmarks from contemporary political influences, potentially sparking debates on federal naming conventions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-12-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Kennedy Center Protection Act — issued 2025-12-23 — PDF (4 pages)