The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, DC The center organizes more than 2,000 performances a year, including theater, contemporary dance, ballet, vocal music, chamber music, hip hop, comedy, international arts and jazz. It is also home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. (Photo with the kind permission of Kennedy Center)
Washington – A democratic legislator asks why the Republicans of the House almost six times as high as the sought -after financing for John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as President Donald Trump, stopped federal grants for art organizations in the USA.
Rep. Chellie Pingree from Maine, the ranking member of the subcommittee, which monitors the financing of the Kennedy Center, requested a detailed accounting of the $ 256.6 million for the budget reconciliation package contained in the Republican Guideline.
The Kennedy Center, a renowned venue in Washington, DC, originally requested only 45.73 million dollars for the 2025 financial year. Trump in February took over the chair of the board of the center, which means that some artists cancel their performances.
ABC News reported On Tuesday, Trump will lead a fundraiser for the center next month.
In A letter Tuesday to the President of the Kennedy Center, Richard Grenell, Pingree asked for a breakdown of the organization’s issue above $ 241.7 million for capital repair projects, $ 7.7 million for operation and maintenance and other administrative costs of $ 7.2 million.
The center had only planned to issue 157 million US dollars for repair projects by 2027 as part of a comprehensive construction plan. This emerges from his budget of 2025 Inquiry.
“I am obliged to the Kennedy Center to be about the necessary resources that are necessary for many years and for many years, and I appreciate President Trump’s joint interest in the future of the center,” wrote Pingree, the co-chair of the cross-party congress art Caucus.
“However, since this administration tries to eliminate important cultural authorities, serve the municipalities across the country, we have to ensure that the funds acquired by the congress to the artists and the audience who do the Kennedy Center really benefit,” wrote Pingree.
Pingree concluded the Trump government’s announcement on Friday that the granting of financial resources from the National Foundation for Arts of Organizations would be withdrawn across the country. Trumps Budget request The NEA recommended completely for the Congress on Friday.
Pingree made an explanation on Saturday morning in which he said that her office had already started from Maine Arts organizations that had received e -mails for scholarships. “These organizations, like countless others, had already made programming decisions for the coming season and counted on these means to pay artists and workers,” said Pingree.
“This project is essential”
An official of the White House announced States Newsroom on Wednesday that Trump had worked with the congress to achieve the financing of the Kennedy Center.
“This project is important in order to promote the vision of President Trump, to restore the size of the capital of our nation. Compliance with anti -American propaganda is crucial to protect our children and promote patriotism,” said the civil servant.
Regardless of this, an e -mail declaration, which was attributed to the spokesman for the White House, Anna Kelly, said: “President Trump takes great care of American art and culture, which is why he revitalizes historical institutions such as the Kennedy Center to her previous size.”
The White House did not immediately respond to follow-up questions to end other art financing.
The Kennedy Center did not respond to the inquiries from States Newsroom about comments about how the funds were used and whether Grenell Pingrees had received a request.
A republican of the house document Those to see the party’s financing goals for 2024 showed that GOP’s house committee had planned $ 44.9 million for the Kennedy Center this year, with the amount of $ 454,000 under 2023 financing levels and $ 3.1 million under the former President Joe Bidens budget application.
