President Donald Trump indicated that funding for necessary structural improvements to the Washington arts institution is dependent on the approval of a renaming proposal. Judge Christopher Cooper recently blocked an attempt by the board to add the president's name to the building's facade, upholding a previous order from May. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio claims Trump is misrepresenting the results of a recent board vote and that the facility remains open to the public.

Internal records from the Trump-appointed board indicate that fundraising to prevent a "certain fiscal collapse" was tied to receiving "appropriate recognition" for the president's role. This dispute follows claims that the center is on the brink of bankruptcy and requires emergency remediation of ceiling panels and water damage. Representative Beatty alleged that Trump attempted to hold her responsible for potential structural failures during a phone call on September 16.