The leadership panel at the Kennedy Center, appointed by President Donald Trump, voted Tuesday to close the performing arts venue immediately, citing dire financial conditions and physical decay. The decision came just hours after a federal judge in Washington blocked the board's attempt to rename the landmark "President Donald J. Trump Plaza."
According to a draft resolution, the center's director and a structural consultant consider the main building unsafe for continued occupancy, anticipating further risk to the public and employees if renovations do not begin immediately. This marks the third attempt since February by the board to implement a two-year shutdown for an overhaul, with previous plans stalled by legal challenges.
Attorneys for the board contended that ongoing litigation has hindered their ability to perform necessary maintenance. However, the presiding judge reminded the board during Tuesday's hearing that his previous order halting a full lockdown specifically exempted emergency repairs. The board's legal team has claimed the center faces imminent bankruptcy, with payroll obligations and maintenance contracts potentially unsupported within weeks. A court filing indicated President Trump had offered to raise funds to prevent bankruptcy.
The board's resolution also proposed renaming the property and adding text to the building by Sept. 8, a move that had been blocked by the judge. Workers were seen preparing scaffolding for the removal of lettering from the venue's facade following the judge's order.
Sources familiar with a private board meeting indicated that President Trump participated virtually, criticizing the congresswoman and the judge involved in blocking the renaming effort. The dispute highlights a tense conflict between the appointed board seeking to align the center with the former president and judicial orders aimed at preserving the institution's original designation and public access.