America’s national cultural center, in Washington, D.C.
Multiple lawsuits challenge President Trump’s efforts to undertake renovations and name changes at the Kennedy Center and other historic sites without congressional approval. Courts have issued rulings blocking or questioning the legality of these actions, citing violations of laws and preservation standards. The legal disputes highlight tensions over presidential authority and historic preservation.
The State Department is finalising a limited run of commemorative U.S. passports featuring Donald Trump’s portrait to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The designs will be issued this summer at the Washington Passport Agency, with no extra cost and no nationwide mail rollout.
The government has renewed debate over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as a lapse looms. President Trump has named Bill Pulte as acting DNI, triggering bipartisan concerns and stalling renewal talks while lawmakers debate guardrails and timing.
A federal judge has weighed whether to block Sunday’s UFC fight on the White House South Lawn. The event, marking Trump’s 80th birthday, is backed by a private-public partnership and features a 92-foot arch called “The Claw.” Critics argue the setup commercializes national monuments; supporters say it showcases a national celebration amid the semiquincentennial.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s renovation has been completed with a nanobubbler system to keep algae at bay. The project, costing about $14.2 million, has drawn mixed reactions over its cost and design, with Interior officials defending the work and opponents pointing to procurement concerns.
A federal judge has ordered the removal of President Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center’s facade and related materials, and the appeals court has refused to pause the order as legal challenges continue. The Kennedy Center’s board sought to overturn the ruling, arguing the name change was lawful, but the court found only Congress can rename the center. The dispute widens as Trump’s renovations and broader projects for Washington’s monumental core proceed.
The Kennedy Center has removed all physical signage naming Trump from its façade after a court ordered the action; workers began removing the letters in the early hours, with delays due to weather and court extensions. The center’s leadership had challenged the scope of the name change but a judge ordered removal, and the center continues with renovations elsewhere.
The Kennedy Center has extended deadlines and ongoing removal of Donald Trump’s name from the facade in a tense legal and weather-impacted process. Courts have weighed in on whether the center may rename the venue, with a judge limiting name changes to Congress and weather delaying work.