The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to immediately close its main building for a two-year period, citing escalating disrepair and safety concerns for visitors and staff. The decision comes as the renowned arts institution faces accusations of impending bankruptcy and a protracted legal dispute over attempts to affix President Donald Trump's name to the building.
The board's resolution to close the building was informed by a memorandum from Executive Director Matt Floca, who was appointed by Trump. The memorandum highlighted a September 4 incident where a section of plaster fell from the grand foyer's ceiling, scattering debris in front of the Concert Hall. According to the resolution filed in court, an August assessment by Delta Consulting Group found the main building to be in an "escalating state of disrepair."
"Both Delta Consulting Group and the Center’s own Executive Director consider the main building to be unsafe for continued occupancy, and anticipate further risk to the public and employees if the building is not immediately closed and renovations begun," the resolution stated.
However, Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member who has led legal challenges against Trump's naming efforts, disputed these claims. Beatty's legal team asserted that Delta Consulting Group had "expressly disclaimed providing any such opinion."
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's Vice President of Public Relations, characterized the falling plaster as "another example of the urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization." She attributed the structural failure to "decades of neglect and deferred maintenance by the previous leadership."
The closure marks the latest development in a period of turmoil for the Kennedy Center following President Trump's return to office. In February 2025, Trump replaced Biden-appointed board members with his own appointees, who subsequently named him Chairman. Deborah Rutter, the Center's president for over a decade, was also dismissed. Trump also dissolved the Center’s Social Impact division and asserted significant involvement in selecting nominees for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, stating he rejected candidates he deemed "too woke."
This controversy led to artist boycotts and a reported decline in subscription sales. The <em>Washington Post</em> noted a 36% drop in subscriptions from the previous year, resulting in a loss of approximately $1.6 million.
Separately, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled against the board's latest attempt to inscribe "renovated and restored by Donald J. Trump" on the building and rename the plaza the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." This followed a May ruling where a judge determined that naming the building after Trump would violate a 1964 statute requiring congressional approval for renaming its intended memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Amid these legal battles, the Department of Justice had argued that removing Trump's name would hinder fundraising and contribute to the Center's financial decline. However, the D.C. Circuit denied a stay, stating that no evidence of financial harm was provided. Judge Christopher Cooper later rejected these claims, stating the government offered "no proof that current or future donations hinge on President Trump’s name being on the building."
According to a resolution prepared for the board, the Kennedy Center is in a "dire financial position" and could be weeks away from bankruptcy without Trump's support, which the board suggested might be contingent on public acknowledgement. The proposed Trump Kennedy Center Fund had not raised any money as of September 15. Critics, however, suggest these claims are a strategy to pressure courts and force naming rights.
Congress appropriated $256,657,000 in restricted funding in July 2025 for capital repair, restoration, and maintenance, available through September 30, 2029. The projected cost of renovations was approximately $257 million. Despite this federal funding, the urgency and scope of the proposed work remain contested.
While the main building, housing the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater, will be closed, some programming will continue at the REACH campus expansion. The Center also plans to maintain educational outreach and present the Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, potentially offsite. Officials stated that the two-year closure would not unduly affect the institution's ability to resume programming in a revitalized main building in 2028, though experts question the impact on reputation, staff retention, and future bookings. The financial recovery after the prolonged closure is expected to be a significant challenge.