Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-28U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) ignited a fresh debate over the naming of public buildings on Monday, stating unequivocally that no living politician should have a government structure named after them. His remarks came in direct response to reports that former President Donald Trump had been lobbying the Department of Energy to name a new $2.1 billion quantum computing research center after himself – a facility that would be part of the National Laboratories system.
“I don’t care if you’re George Washington reincarnated – if you’re still breathing, you don’t get a building,” Kennedy told reporters outside the Capitol. “We have a tradition in this country of honoring people after they’re gone, when we can judge their full legacy. Naming a building after a living politician is just a way to stroke egos and buy loyalty. It’s not about science, it’s about politics.”
Kennedy’s comments were aimed squarely at Trump’s reported efforts, but they also echoed a broader sentiment among some conservatives who worry that the practice of naming federal facilities after living officeholders has gotten out of hand. The proposed facility, tentatively called the “Trump Quantum Innovation Institute,” would be located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Trump allies had argued that the name would honor his administration’s investment in quantum computing and advanced manufacturing.
Context: A History of Naming Controversies
The debate over naming buildings after living politicians is not new. The federal government has a patchwork of rules. The U.S. Code generally discourages naming a federal building after a living person unless Congress passes a specific law. However, exceptions have been made. For instance, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., was named after Reagan while he was still alive – though he was no longer in office. More recently, the Donald J. Trump Federal Building in New York City was proposed but never built.
Trump’s push for the quantum center came as part of his broader “America First Science” initiative, which he announced during a rally in Ohio last month. The former president argued that his administration had “done more for science than any administration in history” and that naming the facility after him would “inspire future generations.” Critics, including Kennedy, countered that such naming is self-serving and undermines the apolitical nature of scientific research.
“Science should be about discovery, not about currying favor with powerful people,” Kennedy said. “If we name a lab after a politician who’s still alive, what message does that send to the researchers working there? That their work is secondary to political connections.”
Analysis FORTIS
From a liberal-conservative perspective, Senator Kennedy’s stance is a refreshing return to first principles. The free market and limited government philosophy holds that public honor should be earned through genuine contribution, not political maneuvering. Naming a building after a living politician is a form of rent-seeking – it uses taxpayer-funded infrastructure to burnish a political brand. It also creates perverse incentives: politicians may be more inclined to fund projects that bear their name, rather than those that serve the public interest most efficiently.
Moreover, the practice feeds a dangerous cult of personality. In a republic, no individual – not even a former president – should be elevated to a quasi-monarchical status while still active in politics. The Founders understood this. They refused to name the capital “Washington” until after George Washington’s death. Thomas Jefferson explicitly opposed having his name on any public building during his lifetime.
Kennedy’s position aligns with the principle of minimal state intervention. Let the market, not politicians, decide what gets built and how it is branded. If a private company wants to name a building after a living person, that’s their business. But when taxpayer dollars are involved, the standard should be higher. The building’s purpose – scientific research – should be the focus, not the vanity of a politician.
Some may argue that naming a building after a living president is a way to thank them for service. But service is its own reward. The nation’s gratitude is best expressed through elections, not through permanent monuments. As Kennedy put it, “We can thank them with a handshake, not a building.”
This is not a partisan issue. Both parties have engaged in the practice. But Kennedy’s call for a moratorium on naming buildings after living politicians – especially in the realm of science – is a principled stand that should appeal to anyone who believes in limited government and merit-based recognition.
**Q: Did Senator Kennedy name any specific politicians besides Trump?** A: In his remarks, Kennedy focused on Trump’s reported efforts, but he made clear his opposition applies to all living politicians. He noted that “both sides of the aisle” have engaged in the practice, and he called for a bipartisan ban.
**Q: Is there a current law preventing naming federal buildings after living people?** A: There is no blanket prohibition. Federal law (40 U.S.C. § 3310) discourages it but allows exceptions if Congress passes a specific resolution. Many states have their own rules. For example, Texas prohibits naming state buildings after living elected officials.
**Q: What is the “Trump Quantum Innovation Institute”?** A: It is a proposed research center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory focused on quantum computing. The Department of Energy has not officially approved the name. The project itself is part of a broader $5 billion quantum initiative that Congress authorized in 2024.
**Q: Has Trump responded to Kennedy’s comments?** A: As of press time, Trump’s spokesperson issued a statement saying, “President Trump’s record on science speaks for itself. Senator Kennedy is out of touch with the American people who respect strong leadership.” Kennedy dismissed the response as “more self-promotion.”
**Q: Could this affect other naming proposals?** A: Possibly. Several members of Congress have introduced bills to restrict naming federal buildings after living individuals. Kennedy’s public stance may give momentum to those efforts. The Science Committee is expected to hold hearings on the issue next month.
**Q: What is FORTIS NEWS’s position?** A: FORTIS NEWS supports Senator Kennedy’s principled stand. We believe that taxpayer-funded institutions should be named based on merit and historical legacy, not political convenience. A living politician cannot have a complete legacy. Let history judge, not the appropriations committee.