Senate Democrats are investigating the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts over its spending practices and booking deals involving political allies, accusing its leadership, installed by President Donald Trump, of “self-dealing, favoritism and waste” amid programming shifts and plummeting ticket sales.
“Contracts, invoices, and facility use agreements reveal that you operate the Center for the enrichment of your friends and acquaintances, to dole out political favors, and as a playground for the President of the United States and his allies,” reads a letter sent Thursday from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) to Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell.
“The Center is being looted to the tune of millions of dollars in foregone revenue,” the letter continued, pointing to “wasteful spending” and discounted rentals, including space agreements for the FIFA World Cup draw and a Conservative Political Action Conference event.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, of which Whitehouse is the leading Democrat, has been reviewing Kennedy Center contracts and expenses, as well as interviewing former and current staffers at the cultural institution to investigate claims of unusual spending, according to a person involved in the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential matter. The committee oversees several federal and independent agencies including the center. The investigation was first reported by the New York Times.
In a response to Whitehouse that the Kennedy Center provided to The Washington Post, Grenell wrote that the senator’s letter contained “partisan attacks” and “false accusations.”
“As President of the Kennedy Center, I take financial responsibility extremely seriously,” Grenell wrote, claiming that he has taken a stricter approach to the center’s finances and pointed to what he described as a turnaround under his leadership. “Today, and for the first time in decades, we have a balanced budget at the Kennedy Center. There was no reference to these facts in your letter.”
The documents obtained by the Senate committee, which were also obtained by The Post, include invoices for hotel and restaurant expenses that total nearly $40,000 and rental agreement contracts for FIFA — soccer’s international governing body — and the American Conservative Union Foundation, the nonprofit behind the annual CPAC gathering of conservative politicians, activists and other figures.
A review of the Kennedy Center’s venue use agreement with FIFA, first reportedby The Post last week, shows that the soccer giant will not be charged a rental fee when it takes over event spaces for nearly three weeks to host the World Cup draw, scheduled for Dec. 5. One of the documents submitted to the committee tallied more than $5 million in losses and expenses for the center as a result of the FIFA booking.
In his letter to Whitehouse, Grenell said the federation has given “several million dollars, in addition to paying all of the expenses for this event in lieu of a rental fee.”
The rental period, which runs from Nov. 24 to Dec. 12, forced the relocation or postponement of other previously scheduled concerts during that time. FIFA is still responsible for operational costs, the agreement states.
Another contract under review is a theater license agreement that offered the American Conservative Union Foundation a $21,983 discount off an initial estimate of $41,990 for CPAC’s Oct. 30 summit at the Kennedy Center, which convened faith leaders, advocates and lawmakers to discuss ways to combat Christian persecution. The contract noted that waived costs were granted by Grenell’s office.
FIFA and ACUF did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the contracts and Senate investigation.
The Senate Energy Committee also received dozens of invoices for hotel and dining expenses such as celebratory meals and champagne services, which reflect “unusual and excessive spending that had never occurred under previous leadership,” according to a report provided to senators. It included charges from Restaurant Associates, the Kennedy Center’s hospitality provider, for dining by Grenell’s team.
One invoice that totaled more than $3,800 was attributed to a dinner that Grenell hosted for family and friends ahead of a performance on July 2. Overall, the dining charges accounted for over $11,000 in “unusual and excessive” expenses, the person involved in the probe said. Lodging accommodations at the Watergate Hotel for new Kennedy Center hires totaled more than $27,000.
Such accommodations did not happen under previous leadership, said the person involved in the investigation. In his letter, Grenell wrote that the food and beverage costs were tied to “donor-based events and meals” and that it is customary for the Kennedy Center to house new employees at the nearby Watergate Hotel for up to two weeks while they relocate to Washington. In 2024, under Deborah Rutter’s leadership, he wrote, Watergate Hotel expenses totaled $878,000.
According to the documents, the charges were incurred during a period when staff were repeatedly told to limit unnecessary spending because of low funds.
The Kennedy Center’s building operations are funded by the federal government, but its revenue relies on ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, event rentals, philanthropic giving and other sources of income. Its operating budget in 2024 was $268 million.
Since Trump took over as chairman in February, overhauling its board and executive leadership, the performance venue has undergone significant changes. Numerous artists and productions have said they are boycotting the center, there have been recurring rounds of staff layoffs and ticket sales have sharply declined, according to a recent Post analysis of sales.
Grenell has said the center is making common-sense business decisions during a difficult period for arts venues and has pointed to recent hefty fundraising hauls.
While much theater and classical programming remains similar to past years, other changes have included an influx of Christian and conservative programming, including worship concerts and a vigil for the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Under the Trump administration, the center has become a frequent meeting venue for foreign officials and business leaders, including a U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum held there this week during a visit from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Following the FIFA draw on Dec. 5, it is set to hold the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 7, which Trump said he will host.
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