The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is disputing whistleblower allegations from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., arguing that critics have mischaracterized Trump-era renovation projects and procurement practices.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Kennedy Center officials say the senator’s allegations get key facts wrong, including that an “$8 million flooring contract” has been misrepresented, the center isn’t subject to the federal contracting rules cited by critics, and that the renovation work complied with the law.
According to Kennedy Center officials, the renovations are part of a long-term infrastructure renewal addressing decades of deferred maintenance rather than politically motivated cosmetic projects.
Officials said the work was made possible through new funding secured under Kennedy Center board chairman President Donald Trump.
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Whitehouse alleges that whistleblowers described a renovation effort that prioritized political optics over sound construction practices.
Whitehouse’s disclosure alleges renovations were rushed to satisfy Trump’s preferences, resulting in wasteful spending and improper contracting.
Among the claims are that a newly installed bathroom floor was torn out because Trump disliked the tile color; steel columns were painted despite alleged rust beneath the surface; an $8 million flooring contract was awarded to a company with no concert hall experience; and renovations began before receiving congressional authorization.
Whitehouse argued the allegations demonstrate “waste” that treated the Kennedy Center “as if it were a private renovation project.”
Kennedy Center officials disputed those allegations, arguing they rely on incomplete or misleading descriptions of renovation projects while misunderstanding both the institution’s legal authority and procurement process.
“The Center has taken measures to responsibly and transparently stabilize the facility while preparing for the comprehensive infrastructure renewal that decades of deferred maintenance have made unavoidable, a project now made possible by our Chairman’s [President Trump’s] vision, which has institutional support and new funding secured,” Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, told Fox News Digital.
“As America’s cultural center, the institution makes every decision guided by responsible stewardship and an unwavering commitment to its patrons and the nation it proudly serves,” Daravi said. “We remain fully committed to transparency and to delivering the critical improvements that will preserve this institution for generations to come.”
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The center also cited a recent federal court ruling that it says supports the legal framework governing its renovation efforts.
According to the Kennedy Center, a May 29 opinion from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia reaffirmed the institution’s legal status outside the executive branch. The center argues that distinction is significant because Whitehouse’s allegations repeatedly suggest it violated federal procurement rules.
Specifically, Kennedy Center officials dispute Whitehouse’s contention that the institution was required to follow the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
Officials said the FAR governs executive agencies, while the Kennedy Center is overseen by a bipartisan board of trustees established by Congress.
According to the Center, it consulted with the Office of Management and Budget and confirmed the FAR “does not apply, and has never applied” to Kennedy Center procurements.
The institution nevertheless said it recently adopted updated procurement policies to eliminate lingering administrative confusion and strengthen public confidence in its contracting process.
Perhaps the biggest dispute centers on Whitehouse’s criticism of an $8 million flooring contract.
Kennedy Center officials said the oft-cited $8 million figure has been presented without important context.
Rather than an $8 million payment, officials said the agreement is a five-year blanket purchase agreement establishing only a maximum spending ceiling, with money obligated through individual call orders only when work is needed.
The center also defended selecting Low Country Flooring, saying the company was the only vertically integrated contractor in the Mid-Atlantic capable of sourcing wood directly from timber mills while maintaining the grain consistency and acoustic performance required inside the concert hall.
Whitehouse also questioned work involving decorative columns.
The Kennedy Center said the contract complied with federal small business requirements because it was awarded to a certified SBA 8a contractor, which legally used subcontractors to perform portions of the work.
Officials added that any workmanship concerns remain covered by standard commercial warranties requiring corrective work if necessary.
The center also disputed allegations involving reflecting pool repairs, saying the work was intended to stabilize structural deterioration, not restore the water feature to operation, and defended routine design decisions involving the center’s historic presidential boxes as standard preservation work that did not create unnecessary costs for taxpayers.
Whitehouse’s office, however, maintained that the Kennedy Center has not substantively engaged with the senator’s oversight requests.
“We have received no response from the Kennedy Center to the most recent letter, and no substantive response to any information requests dating back to November,” Whitehouse communications director Meaghan McCabe told Fox News Digital.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
