A member of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees has publicly criticized Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., for what he describes as repeated refusals to engage in in-person discussions regarding alleged "mismanagement" at the institution. Brian Ballard, a Kennedy Center board member, stated in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital that Whitehouse has ignored multiple invitations for face-to-face meetings.
"Given that Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Matt Floca's several good-faith invitations for an in-person meeting to address your concerns have gone repeatedly ignored, it appears that written correspondence is your preferred method of communication," Ballard wrote to Whitehouse. He added that the current leadership has provided the board with detailed assessments of the necessary work to address decades of deferred maintenance and systemic deterioration, deeming it unsafe and inefficient to complete around a fully operational public building.
Ballard also contested Whitehouse's assertions that the Kennedy Center's Audit and Finance Committee does not meet regularly. He further disputed claims that guided tours were suspended solely due to mismanagement, explaining that the brief halt was partially to review campus-wide tour routes for visitor experience and coincided with sprinkler system maintenance.
"None of this is to wave away the Board's obligations following the Court's decision as I share your view that we owe trustees, Congress, and the public a rigorous, well-documented record of the decisions ahead of us, and I am confident that management will continue to meet that standard," Ballard stated. He reiterated an invitation for an in-person discussion, suggesting that Whitehouse's letters often reach the press before the intended recipient.
A source familiar with the matter indicated that Whitehouse did not attend a March board meeting or a scheduled April tour highlighting maintenance needs and has avoided multiple invitations from COO Matt Floca. Whitehouse has previously expressed suspicion that the "close for repairs" decision was a pretext for mismanagement that impacted bookings, attendance, and revenues.
In a letter to Floca, Whitehouse questioned the fiduciary implications of renaming efforts and warned of potential legal reviews for board members if a credible revival plan is not presented and adopted, suggesting possible court supervision or receivership.
The Kennedy Center itself has addressed the ongoing dispute, with Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi stating, "Political theater has no place at America’s cultural center. Our Chairman President Trump’s commitment to revitalization is supported by Center leadership and the Board who are laser-focused on the responsible stewardship of this beloved institution."
Earlier this year, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's plans for a two-year renovation that would have shuttered the Kennedy Center and prevented its renaming to the Trump Kennedy Center, ruling that only Congress has the authority to change the institution's name.