Kennedy Center staff are pushing to unionize in response to program cuts and layoffs under the Trump administration. The UAW is backing their effort, citing concerns over transparency, job security, and political influence.

Staffers asked the National Labor Relations Board to oversee a union vote. They criticized leaders at the arts center for layoffs and a lack of transparency under President Donald Trump.

The group of staffers, from programming, marketing, development and other departments, is calling for “a return to ethical norms” and “freedom from partisan interference in programming.”