Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has undertaken a sweeping remaking of Washington, D.C., renaming federal institutions and making physical alterations to government buildings and public spaces. The changes include renaming the U.S. Institute of Peace as the "Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace" and redesignating the Kennedy Center as the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."
The administration has also proposed naming Dulles International Airport after the president, according to reporting by The Hill. Additionally, the Treasury Department has issued a gold coin bearing Trump's image, and the State Department announced plans to issue limited-edition passports featuring a portrait and gold signature of Trump on the inside cover beginning this summer.
Physical changes to federal property include the renovation of the Rose Garden into what critics describe as resembling a Mar-a-Lago-style patio. The administration has planted two giant flag poles and a Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds. Officials have also fenced off Lafayette Square for two years and drained the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial, with plans to repaint its bottom.
The president announced plans during a December 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees speech: "I have two jobs," Trump said. "I have a construction job, which is really like relaxation for me because I have been doing this all my life."
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters frame the changes as modernization and preservation efforts that reflect the current administration's priorities. The White House has characterized some renovations as necessary upgrades to aging federal infrastructure.
The Kennedy Center renaming, which includes both Trump and John F. Kennedy's names, has been presented by administration allies as a way to honor multiple administrations. Supporters argue that presidents have historically had discretion over White House grounds and the treatment of federal property within executive jurisdiction.
Republican senators have requested $1 billion in taxpayer funding for the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom expansion of the East Wing, which was demolished to make room for the project. Administration supporters contend such investments in federal buildings represent legitimate uses of government resources.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of the administration's actions argue these changes represent an unprecedented personalization of federal property and institutions. Columnist Bill Press wrote in The Hill that Trump has "treated Washington as his personal property," noting that the president has proposed additional projects including painting the Old Executive Building white, replacing columns on the North face of the White House, destroying the Hains Point golf course to build a championship course, constructing a Sculpture Garden in West Potomac Park, and erecting a 19-story arch at Arlington National Cemetery.
Proponents of D.C. statehood have pointed to these changes as evidence for their cause. As Press noted: "Now, proponents of statehood have the strongest argument possible: to prevent any temporary occupant of the White House from rebranding the nation's capital in his honor."
Opponents argue that federal law prohibits issuing currency with the likeness of a living person and that Congress must approve major changes to the White House. They contend the administration has either ignored existing laws or appointed loyal commissioners to approve modifications.
What the Numbers Show
Trump is approximately 17 months into his second term as president. The administration has renamed at least two major federal institutions: the Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center.
Federal law prohibits issuing "currency" with the likeness of a living person, according to existing statutes. Major changes to White House structures traditionally require congressional approval under established protocols for executive branch facilities.
D.C. lacks full statehood representation in Congress, meaning residents have no voting members in either chamber to formally object to federal actions affecting their city through legislative channels.
The Bottom Line
The administration's remaking of Washington represents one of the most visible physical transformations of the capital by any modern president. Critics argue these changes circumvent legal protections against personalization of federal institutions, while supporters contend they fall within executive discretion.
Legal scholars are examining whether administration actions comply with existing laws governing currency issuance and congressional oversight of White House modifications. The proposed $1 billion ballroom funding will require congressional approval.
What's next: Watch for potential legal challenges to the gold coin and passport issuances under federal currency statutes. The Kennedy Center renaming may face review by the commission that governs the institution. Any congressional response to White House construction projects will depend on continued Republican control of both chambers.