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Obama Presidential Center’s $470M safety net under scrutiny as subcontractors say they’re owed millions

Obama Presidential Center’s 0M safety net under scrutiny as subcontractors say they’re owed millions

Concern is mounting that taxpayers could be left holding the bag if the Obama Presidential Center runs into financial trouble, as the foundation behind it has yet to establish a promised $470 million safety net to guard against a public bailout. The scrutiny comes as a Fox News Digital investigation found multiple contractors and subcontractors claiming losses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions on the project, with some alleging they remain locked in payment disputes and face financial ruin just days before the center’s grand opening. Under its agreement with the city, the Obama Foundation pledged to create the fund, known as an endowment, as part of its 99-year deal to take control of the publicly owned 19.3-acre section of Jackson Park for a one-time payment of just $10. Fox News Digital previously reported that the foundation had deposited just $1 million into the reserve fund in 2021 and that the balance remained largely unchanged in its most recent publicly available filings. VALERIE JARRETT EARNED $740K AS OBAMA INSIDERS FILLED TOP ROLES DURING $850M PRESIDENTIAL CENTER BUILD Concerns about the center’s financial state have raged for years, especially since construction delays and costs have ballooned from an original estimate of roughly $330 million to at least $850 million based on 2021 figures. An updated final projected cost has not been made public. Endowment concerns “One of their core promises was they were supposed to create an endowment as basically an insurance policy so the taxpayers wouldn’t get stuck with the bill,” Illinois GOP Chair Robert Grogan told Fox News Digital outside the center last week as worker vehicles entered and exited the center. “They promised hundreds of millions of dollars for it. It’s still sitting at the $1 million mark [where it stood] when they opened it up. So I don’t believe that they’ve kept that promise.” The contractor disputes have renewed concern of the endowment because critics argue the fund was intended to serve as a backstop if the project ever encountered financial distress. The Obama Foundation disputes suggestions that taxpayers face exposure and said the project is funded through private contributions. Grogan said reports that contractors and subcontractors remain locked in payment disputes make the largely unfunded reserve even more problematic. “The fact that they have created this probably unsustainable edifice to an ego and then, eventually, if it goes under, who’s going to be caught with the bill time and time again? It’s the taxpayers of the city, citizens of Chicago and the state of Illinois.” BUREAUCRATS HIDE TRUE PRICE OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AS TAXPAYERS HIT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE BILL Richard Epstein, a New York University law professor who has spent years challenging the project in court, said the reserve fund was intended to protect against exactly this type of uncertainty. “The whole point of an endowment is to fund future expenses,” Epstein told Fox News Digital, adding that the endowment acts as a financial backup if future fundraising falls short. “If the endowment hasn’t been filled, the building [could] fall into neglect, it then becomes a safety risk, and it turns out that nobody’s going to pay the bill,” Epstein said. “The city therefore, is going to have to assume additional obligations to make sure that thing is kept in place.” Grogan said reports that contractors remain unpaid only reinforce the need for closer scrutiny and called for an investigation if allegations that subcontractors were left holding the bag prove accurate. Subcontractor disputes raise new questions A Fox News Digital investigation identified multiple construction firms claiming losses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to tens of millions. Outside the center last week, Adamson Plumbing President Mike Owen provided company spreadsheets to Fox News Digital, which he said showed that his firm is nearly $4 million in the red. He said that unnecessary rework, delays and more than 100 change-order requests left his company absorbing millions of dollars in additional costs. In addition, Omar Shareef, the president of the African American Contractors Association, told Fox News Digital outside the center last Saturday that several Black-owned contractors are also in financial difficulty due to the project. The claims raise fresh worries about the center’s long-term financial sustainability because an endowment is intended to provide a permanent source of income that can help fund future operations and cushion against financial stress. Endowments are typically invested, with a portion of the earnings used to support an institution over time. The Obama Foundation told Fox News Digital that it is in compliance with its agreement with the city, noting that the pact required the creation of an endowment but did not specify a dollar target. OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER DEPOSITS JUST $1M INTO $470M RESERVE FUND AIMED TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS The foundation said the Obama Presidential Center is “fully funded” and that it plans to make “significant investments” in the endowment in the coming years. “On the eve of our Grand Opening celebrations, we are pleased to reiterate that the Obama Presidential Center is fully funded with generous private contributions,” the Obama Foundation said in a statement. The $470 million figure emerged during public discussions surrounding the project and was later cited in the Obama Foundation’s 2020 annual report, which featured a fundraising chart stating: “$470M of our fundraising goal will go toward seeding an endowment that will sustain Obama Foundation activities and the operations of the OPC for generations to come.” The foundation previously estimated annual operating costs could reach approximately $40 million. Nonprofit endowments are typically structured so that only a small percentage of the fund — often around 4% to 5% annually — is spent each year while the principal remains invested. The goal is to generate investment income that can help support operations over the long term without relying entirely on future fundraising. The Obama Presidential Center consists of a museum tower, digital library, athletic facilities, conference space and offices for the Obama Foundation on Chicago’s South Side. The Obama Foundation is overseeing

Trump picks James McDonald to lead powerful Southern District of New York after Jay Clayton’s departure

President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his intent to appoint James M. McDonald as the next U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). The high-profile position is opening up following Trump’s recent nomination of the district’s current U.S. attorney, Jay Clayton, to serve in his cabinet as the nation’s new director of national intelligence. “I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as he has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, our Law Enforcement Patriots, the Legal Community, and the Judicial Bench,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post announcing the pick. TRUMP GREEN LIGHTS NEW DNI PULTE TO ‘START THE PROCESS’ ON MASS INTELLIGENCE FIRINGS McDonald, an Oklahoma native, previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the SDNY and worked during Trump’s first term as the director of enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Like his predecessor Clayton, McDonald has strong ties to the prominent law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, where he currently serves as a senior partner. His legal background also includes clerking for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., and graduating from Harvard College and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Rubio, Newsom share World Cup spotlight at US opener as 2028 presidential speculation swirls

Secretary of State Marco Rubio used Team USA’s World Cup opener Friday night in California to meet with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, according to a State Department official, as the Trump administration highlighted the secretary’s diplomatic work during the quadrennial international soccer tournament. “Secretary Rubio was honored to attend the first World Cup game in the U.S. [Friday] night and witness an incredible win for our country. Secretary Rubio never stops working to advance U.S. priorities and used the opportunity to meet with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña during the game to discuss our strategic partnerships,” an administration official told Fox News Digital. The U.S. men defeated Paraguay, 4-1, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in the opening match of its World Cup campaign. Rubio’s attendance also generated political interest after reports indicated he would be seated in the same suite as California Gov. Gavin Newsom during the match. USMNT WORLD CUP OPENER GETS OFF TO A FLYING START WITH OWN GOAL PUTTING AMERICANS AHEAD OF PARAGUAY The appearance placed two of the country’s most prominent political figures from opposite parties at the same event as speculation continues about the 2028 presidential race. Newsom has repeatedly faced questions about a potential White House bid and has acknowledged he has considered a presidential run, though he has not announced any plans to seek the office. Rubio, a former Republican presidential candidate and one of President Donald Trump‘s most visible Cabinet members, has likewise been discussed by some political observers as a potential future contender for the White House. The State Department did not provide additional details about Rubio’s discussion with Peña, including whether the meeting had been arranged before the match or what specific issues were discussed. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO OFFER ‘PREMIUM’ EXPEDITED VISA INTERVIEWS FOR $750 Paraguay has long maintained close ties with the U.S. and is one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies in South America, a relationship that has made the country strategically important in the region as the U.S. and China compete for influence across Latin America. The World Cup is expected to draw government officials, world leaders and political figures from around the globe as matches are held across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The State Department and Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. The administration’s description of Rubio’s meeting with Peña underscored that the secretary of state continued conducting diplomatic business while attending the tournament opener, which marked the beginning of Team USA’s World Cup campaign on home soil.

Workers rip Trump’s name from Kennedy center facade months after it goes on, hours after failed appeal

Workers removed President Donald Trump‘s name off the Kennedy Center facade Saturday, after an appeals court denied a request from the Kennedy Center’s board to block a judge’s ruling that Trump’s name be removed. Workers erected scaffolding around the Washington, D.C., landmark Friday and began removing the Trump name from the signage that had previously read “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts.” The Kennedy Center board had approved the addition of Trump’s name in December, claiming that the move was in recognition of Trump’s accomplishments in saving “the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction.” Workers affixed Trump’s name to the facade the next day. TRUMP’S NAME ADDED TO KENNEDY CENTER FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS BOARD VOTE TO RENAME HISTORIC BUILDING Now, however, the Trump name is coming down despite numerous legal efforts from the Kennedy Center board. The board filed for both a stay pending appeal and an immediate administrative stay, arguing the name should not be removed before the matter gets an appellate review. But an appeals court denied the request for an immediate administrative stay. OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE WITH TIES TO ANTI-TRUMP CONSPIRACY THEORY HIT WITH MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT The board then filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals, but a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit denied it. The board had requested a pause in the enforcement of Judge Christopher Cooper’s ruling that Trump’s name be removed, but Cooper, a U.S. district judge, denied the request Friday. Cooper maintained in an opinion on his ruling that the Kennedy Center’s name can only be changed or modified through an act of Congress. Trump slammed Cooper’s decision in an excoriating late May Truth Social barrage, writing, “Trump Hating Judge wants to keep it open because his wife probably told him to do so,” while pointing out that Cooper’s wife, Amy Jeffress, is a former Obama-era Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney who represented a number of high-profile Trump critics. “We remain fully compliant with the court’s directive while we evaluate legal options regarding the Board’s unanimous vote,” Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations at the Kennedy Center said in a statement. “The establishment of the Trump Kennedy Center Fund is intended to recognize President Donald J. Trump’s significant contributions and dedication to America’s premier cultural center, while furthering our founding mission like never before.” Fox News Digital contacted the White House for additional comment. Fox News’ Bill Mears contributed to this report.

From colony to cell: Sexual violence in Israeli prisons

NewsFeed This testimony is part of a wider pattern documented in reports, witness accounts, and research describing sexual abuse in Israeli prisons and beyond. Al Jazeera’s Marah Rayan explains how perpetrators can operate with impunity. Published On 13 Jun 202613 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

Workers remove Trump’s name from Kennedy Center after court ruling

Judge says Trump-backed board’s move to add president’s name unlawful, requires Congressional approval. Published On 13 Jun 202613 Jun 2026 Workers have begun removing the name of United States President Donald Trump from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC following a court ruling. On Saturday, workers were seen on scaffolding in front of the iconic building, with white awning obscuring the removal process. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list A day earlier, US District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a last minute appeal by the center’s Trump-aligned board to block an earlier ruling calling for the president’s name to be removed. On May 29, Cooper ruled that the building had been illegally renamed, noting that only the US Congress has the authority to pass legislation to make such a change. He set a 14-day deadline for the removal. In his decision on Friday, Cooper said that the public interest “is rarely served by the ‘perpetuation’ of ‘unlawful’ governmental action”. The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC with work to remove Trump’s name blocked from public view [Ken Cedeno/Reuters] Trump, a real estate and development heir, built his career on the ubiquitous branding of his name, which remains emblazoned across apartment buildings, casinos and golf courses in various parts of the world. He has taken a similar approach to the presidency, renaming the since defunct US Institute of Peace, the Donald J Trump US Institute of Peace. The White House is pushing to put Trump’s image on a $250 bill marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. The US State Department has said it will issue special passports with Trump’s image and signature to mark the event. Advertisement Trump has also pursued several controversial construction projects in the US capital, including knocking down the east wing of the White House to build a sprawling ballroom. A legal challenge to the project by the National Trust for Historic Preservation was making its way through the federal courts. Workers prepare to remove the name of US President Donald Trump at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC [Matt Kaminsky/EPA] Trump stacked the governing board of the Kennedy Center with loyalists upon taking office. They voted in December to change the name, with ‘Donald J Trump’ added to the building’s facade shortly after. Several artists cancelled performances after the change. Judge Cooper has also temporarily blocked Trump’s plan to close the center for two years for renovations. Trump responded to that ruling by saying he had “no interest in continuing” his involvement with the institution. Adblock test (Why?)

Iranians divided on peace prospects after US-Iran say a deal is near

NewsFeed Iranians gave mixed reactions as Iran and the US said they were close to an interim agreement to end the war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a memorandum of understanding “has never been closer”, while Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not be party to the deal. Published On 13 Jun 202613 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

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