A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that prohibits renaming federal buildings, land plots, and other government properties in honor of a sitting president.
Source: Bukvy
The initiative arose after the decision to add President Donald Trump’s name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. On December 18, the institution’s board of trustees voted to rename it the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” which drew criticism from lawmakers.
Maryland Congresswoman April McClain introduced two bills: the first cancels the board’s decision and requires removing Trump’s name from the institution, and the second prohibits naming federal properties after sitting presidents. Senator Bernie Sanders is preparing a similar bill in the Senate, calling Trump’s actions “arrogant.”
Robert F. Kennedy’s daughter, Kerry Kennedy, stated that Trump’s name should not appear alongside her father’s, while Trump noted that the board consists of “the most distinguished people in the country” and that his team “saved the building from poor condition.”
The future of the Center’s name and the legislative initiatives will depend on decisions by Congress and the courts. A lawsuit has already been filed, claiming that any change to the name of a federal institution requires a separate decision by the legislative body.
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