Kennedy Center Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
In Committee
Summary
Protect the John F. Kennedy Center's statutory name and block a trustee-led renaming. The Kennedy Center Protection Act would void the trustees' vote to rename the Center and require any altered signage or official references to revert to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Show full summary
- Trustees: Trustees would have 1 day to remove any signage that differs from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and 30 days to report any public or private funds used to install or change the name.
- Federal records and publications: Any law, map, regulation, document, paper, publication, signage, or other U.S. record changed after the vote must revert to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
- Board authority: The bill would add a prohibition preventing the Board of Trustees from undertaking any vote, proposal, or action to rename the Center, and it affirms that only Congress may rename the Center by statute.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Restore Kennedy Center name; ban rename
If enacted, the bill would void the Board of Trustees' December 18, 2025 vote to rename the Center the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts." Any law, map, regulation, document, publication, sign, or other U.S. record changed after that vote would have to revert to "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts." The Trustees would be barred from voting on, proposing, or authorizing any future renaming of the Center. The Trustees would have to remove any signs or identification that differ from the "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" within 1 day of enactment. The Trustees would also have to report to Congress within 30 days about any public or private funds used to install, alter, or implement the name change.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/23/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/23/2025
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 12/23/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov