House panel backs plan to rename Kennedy Center Opera House for Melania Trump

WASHINGTON, The House Appropriations Committee has approved a Republican amendment that would rechristen the John F. Kennedy Center’s Opera House as the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House. The proposal passed 33 to 25 in a vote that split along party lines during Tuesday’s markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill.

The amendment, offered by Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho, ties a large share of the centre’s future federal funding to adoption of the new name. Simpson said that honouring the first lady is an “excellent way to recognise her appreciation for the arts”.

Democrats on the panel objected. Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine warned that Republicans had inserted a divisive measure into must‑pass spending legislation and accused the majority of giving the president unrestricted control over the institution.

The Opera House is the Kennedy Center’s second‑largest venue, seating nearly 2,400 patrons and hosting ballet, opera and major musical‑theatre productions.

Even after clearing committee, the renaming faces steep hurdles. The spending bill must still pass the full House and then secure at least 60 votes in the Senate, where Democrats hold enough seats to block partisan riders. Lawmakers have until the end of September to finalise appropriations and avoid a partial government shutdown.

The move is the latest in a series of steps that have expanded President Donald Trump’s influence over the non‑partisan cultural landmark. Earlier this year he removed several trustees, installed political allies on the board and assumed the role of chairman. The board shake‑up was followed by the dismissal of Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter and criticism of what the administration called “woke” programming, prompting cancellations such as the planned return engagement of HAMILTON.

Republicans have also boosted the centre’s federal allocation to roughly 256.7 million US dollars over four years, more than six times its typical annual support, even as they propose steep cuts to other arts agencies.

Established in 1958 through bipartisan legislation and named for President John F. Kennedy in 1964, the Kennedy Center has traditionally sought to stay above partisan politics. During his first term, Trump broke with precedent by skipping the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony after several awardees signalled they would protest his appearance. Tuesday’s vote suggests the institution’s bipartisan status is again under strain.

The full House is expected to consider the Interior and Environment spending package later this northern‑summer. If the Melania Trump amendment survives that vote, attention will shift to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.

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