Inside Trump's Push to Rename Dulles and Penn Station After Himself

Former President Donald Trump is privately lobbying Republican lawmakers to rename Washington Dulles International Airport and New York's Penn Station after himself, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The proposal would require congressional authorization to rename federally owned transportation infrastructure.

The initiative faces significant hurdles, including bipartisan opposition and procedural challenges. Renaming Dulles Airport—currently named after Eisenhower-era Secretary of State John Foster Dulles—would require approval from both Congress and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Similarly, redesignating Penn Station would involve coordination with Amtrak, which owns the station, and local New York authorities.

Historical precedent shows renaming federal infrastructure after living presidents is exceptionally rare. The last major transportation hub renamed for a president was New York's Idlewild Airport becoming JFK International Airport in 1963, one month after President Kennedy's assassination. According to congressional records, no major federal transportation facility has been renamed for a living president since the 19th century.

Cost estimates for such rebranding range from $5-$15 million per facility based on recent federal renaming projects. Expenses would include replacing all physical signage, updating air traffic control systems, modifying FAA databases, revising global airline scheduling systems, and replacing thousands of maps and wayfinding materials. These costs would be borne by taxpayers unless privately funded.

Transportation analysts note potential operational disruptions during transitions. "Rebranding major hubs affects everything from baggage handling systems to international flight documentation," said a former FAA administrator. "It's not just signs—it's updating decades of embedded operational protocols."

Congressional Democrats have already vowed to block the measures, while some Republicans express reluctance. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the Penn Station proposal "a vanity project distracting from real infrastructure needs," highlighting ongoing $7 billion renovation plans for the transit hub. The White House has not publicly commented.

Legal scholars point to potential complications regarding naming rights for facilities receiving federal funding. Unlike private venues like Trump Tower, federally owned infrastructure falls under strict naming regulations requiring congressional oversight. The proposal emerges amid ongoing debates about presidential legacies and the politicization of public infrastructure naming conventions.