Senator Whitehouse cites whistleblower report on alleged construction issues at Kennedy Center
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Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said a whistleblower disclosure alleges rushed renovations and contract irregularities at the Kennedy Center during former President Trump's involvement.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said on Saturday that a whistleblower disclosure submitted by the Government Accountability Project details alleged problems with recent renovations at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The report, which Whitehouse said includes statements from former project managers and internal documents, claims that work was accelerated to meet a December schedule tied to President Donald Trump's planned televised events.
According to the senator, the alleged shortcuts resulted in rusting steel columns, a reflecting pool that may need to be rebuilt, and a bathroom floor that was replaced after a tile color was deemed unsatisfactory. Whitehouse said the whistleblower material also describes an $8 million contract to replace the concert hall floor that was awarded to a firm without prior concert-hall experience, and that no-bid contracts were used.
Whitehouse sent a letter to Kennedy Center executive director Matt Floca requesting a response by July 23 and attached an 83-page appendix of emails, photographs and other records cited in the disclosure. The Kennedy Center has not yet commented on the allegations.
The center was placed under new leadership after President Trump attempted to rename the venue and install himself as chairman of its board, a move that was later reversed by a federal judge. Legal challenges have kept the center open despite the controversy.