Thousands of visitors attended the opening of the 20-acre campus in Jackson Park on the city’s South Side, where the center features a museum, library, conference facilities, athletic spaces, gardens, playgrounds, walking paths and public art installations.

Barack and Michelle Obama began the inaugural day with a public story-time event for children and families, reading from Maurice Sendak’s 1963 classic “Where the Wild Things Are.” The event was designed to highlight the center’s focus on youth engagement, education and civic participation.

Emily Bittner, vice president of communications at the Obama Presidential Center, said the facility aims to provide a space where young people can “discover their voices, explore new ideas, and develop the skills and confidence to shape the future.”

According to the Obama Foundation, the center is intended to serve as a gathering place for local residents and international visitors while advancing leadership development and community-focused initiatives. The foundation said the opening represented the culmination of years of planning and community engagement efforts.

The eight-story complex, located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, cost approximately $850 million to build and was financed entirely through private donations raised by the Obama Foundation. The foundation said no public funds were used for construction.

The center will also function as the headquarters of the Obama Foundation, which oversees leadership training programs and youth development initiatives in the United States and abroad.

Ahead of the public opening, the center hosted a private event on Thursday attended by about 3,000 invited guests, including former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, as well as current and former elected officials, civic leaders and prominent figures from the entertainment industry.

Among those in attendance were Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized Obama and Biden, was not invited to the opening ceremonies. Trump later shared an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting the center with a large garbage bag on its roof.

The opening celebrations also featured performances and appearances by musicians and entertainers including Bono, The Edge, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Questlove, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Eddie Vedder and Christina Aguilera, alongside several high-profile guests from film, television and media.

The resolution passed 215-208 after a small group of Republicans joined Democrats in defying President Donald Trump, reflecting growing concern in Congress over the cost and duration of the war.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the conflict had cost U.S. taxpayers more than $100 billion and weakened America’s position, calling it a “reckless and costly war of choice.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the measure, arguing that Trump remains focused on securing a lasting resolution and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route disrupted by the conflict.

The resolution now shifts attention to the Senate, where a similar measure has already advanced with bipartisan support but has yet to receive a final vote.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that congressional restrictions could undermine U.S. leverage in negotiations with Tehran, while lawmakers continue debating the balance of war-making powers between Congress and the White House.

The inquiry by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General is focused on a $30 million grant awarded to the foundation in June 2025, the Financial Times reported.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was created as an alternative aid distribution mechanism that largely bypassed United Nations-led humanitarian operations in the territory during the Gaza conflict.

According to the report, investigators are examining how the funding was sourced and spent, including procurement practices for food supplies and transportation services provided through private contractors.

Sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that the foundation paid significantly higher prices for food than previous U.S.-funded humanitarian programs in the region.

A spokesperson for the foundation denied knowledge of any investigation and defended the organization’s purchasing practices, saying most food was procured locally at reasonable prices. The spokesperson acknowledged, however, that transportation costs were unusually high because of the operational risks associated with active conflict zones.

The State Department’s Office of Inspector General declined to confirm or deny the existence of a formal investigation but said it had launched an audit earlier this year into U.S. food assistance efforts in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The foundation faced criticism soon after its launch in May 2025 over its opaque financing structure and its reliance on private military contractors at aid distribution sites.

Its executive director and deputy director resigned before operations officially began as international criticism mounted over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

The report said Gaza health authorities estimated that around 1,000 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while attempting to access aid near distribution centers operated by the foundation, while United Nations agencies warned that famine conditions were spreading across the territory.

According to the Financial Times, some U.S. officials privately questioned how the foundation operated after the Trump administration waived several audit and oversight requirements typically imposed on federally funded humanitarian organizations.

Democratic lawmakers also requested explanations from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the approval process for the funding and the safeguards attached to the aid program.

The organization suspended operations in October 2025, citing funding shortages, despite claiming it had distributed more than 187 million meals in Gaza, a figure reportedly disputed by some Israeli officials.

The Louisiana legislature approved the revised congressional plan despite objections from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, who argued the changes would weaken Black voter representation in a state where African Americans make up nearly one-third of the population.

The redistricting dispute has emerged as part of a broader nationwide fight over electoral boundaries, voting rights and partisan control of Congress, with both Republicans and Democrats increasingly using state legislatures and courts to shape district maps.

Newsom criticized Republican efforts during public remarks Thursday, accusing the party of attempting to dilute minority voting power through aggressive redistricting strategies.“This is stone-cold racism,” Newsom said, according to remarks carried in U.S. political coverage of the debate.

Republican lawmakers in Louisiana defended the plan as legally permissible and consistent with broader constitutional requirements governing congressional districts.The revised map is expected to face legal challenges from voting rights organizations and civil liberties groups, particularly under provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act designed to protect minority representation.

Redistricting battles have intensified across several U.S. states following recent court rulings and demographic shifts reflected in census data, with disputes often centered on whether district boundaries unfairly favor one political party or diminish the electoral influence of minority communities.

The issue has become especially contentious in southern states where changing population patterns and polarized voting blocs have heightened scrutiny of congressional maps.

Civil rights advocates argue that reducing majority-Black districts could undermine decades of protections established under federal voting rights legislation, while Republicans in several states maintain that race should not be the dominant factor in drawing district boundaries.

The Louisiana decision is likely to increase pressure on federal courts already weighing similar challenges involving congressional and legislative maps nationwide.

The National Advisory Committee serves as a key group of experts and community leaders who advise the President on critical policy matters. Under President Trump’s administration, the committee played an influential role in shaping initiatives on economic growth, healthcare, education, and national security by providing strategic counsel drawn from diverse professional backgrounds.

Farhan Malik, son of Dr. Imad Malik, expressed his honor at the appointment, stating, “I am proud to represent both my heritage and the values of service and leadership. I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the committee’s efforts.”

The National Advisory Committee is composed of appointed leaders across sectors such as business, healthcare, technology, and public policy. Members bring specialized expertise to advise the President and administration officials on important national and international issues. Their recommendations help inform policy decisions that impact millions.

Appointments to the National Advisory Committee are made directly by the sitting U.S. President or administration officials. Candidates are usually selected based on: Demonstrated leadership and professional excellence, Contributions to community or public service, Recognition as experts in their respective fields.

While there is no formal application process, individuals interested in serving are encouraged to build strong professional reputations, actively engage with their communities, and seek opportunities to contribute to public discourse.

Farhan Malik’s achievement is a testament to the growing presence and impact of the Indian diaspora in the United States. As more Indian-origin professionals enter influential advisory and leadership roles, they help bridge cultures and contribute to shaping policies that resonate globally.