Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) called for a formal prohibition on naming federal buildings after living public officials during a televised interview Sunday, as multiple legal and legislative battles intensify over President Trump’s efforts to rebrand iconic Washington landmarks.
Speaking on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on September 27, 2026, Kennedy argued that “no living public official” should have their name on a public building. The senator’s proposal follows a series of executive attempts to rename institutions ranging from the Kennedy Center to major transit hubs, often over the objections of independent boards and federal courts.
Judicial and Legislative Resistance
Kennedy’s comments come shortly after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the removal of President Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In his ruling, Cooper stated that the authority to rename the national cultural institution rests solely with Congress, rather than the executive branch. The institution has recently faced internal turmoil; a section of the Grand Foyer ceiling collapsed on September 4, 2026, fueling a dispute over whether the facility should be closed for two years for repairs.
The resistance to the rebranding efforts has also reached the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). In September 2026, former officials at the USIP filed an emergency motion to block construction crews from permanently carving the president’s name into the building’s stone facade.
Infrastructure and Funding Leverage
The White House has reportedly used federal infrastructure funding as leverage in its naming campaign. Sources indicate that the administration suggested renaming New York’s Penn Station and Virginia’s Dulles International Airport after the president as a condition for unfreezing billions in funding, including the $16 billion Gateway project for the Hudson River Tunnel.
In addition to existing buildings, the president has proposed a 250-foot-tall “Triumphal Arch” near the Lincoln Memorial. The proposed structure would also serve as a military complex.
Criticism of Taxpayer-Funded Promotion
The naming controversy has intersected with a growing debate over government-funded media. In September 2026, a 30-second advertisement promoting the president began airing on major networks. While the White House has characterized these segments as “public service announcements” intended to highlight national resilience, Senator Kennedy and other critics have characterized them as private promotional ads funded by taxpayers.
“We shouldn’t be using taxpayer money to run what are essentially private ads for a politician,” Kennedy said during his Sunday appearance. He emphasized that the focus of public infrastructure should remain on service rather than individual branding, suggesting that his proposed rule would create a “cooling-off period” that prevents buildings from being named until an official has been out of office or deceased for a set number of years.
