Judge Requires Notice Before Major Kennedy Center Changes
A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to give 30-day notice before undertaking major physical alterations, including demolition, amid an escalating dispute over the Washington performing arts institution. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the requirement was intended to remove uncertainty following the center’s unexpected closure to the public on Wednesday.
Kennedy Center executive Matt Floca said the building was closed temporarily because of acute public safety concerns linked to structural deterioration. Officials plan to spend at least seven days assessing areas of the main building after an inspection of the roof terrace canopy and a partial ceiling collapse. The immediate shutdown is separate from the board’s Tuesday vote to close the center indefinitely for repairs.
The legal action was brought by Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex-officio board member, who argued that the closure could be an unlawful step toward permanently shutting the institution. Cooper declined her request to hold an emergency hearing on the board’s motives, but agreed to clarify that his order covers demolition and requires advance notice for major changes.
The dispute follows the board’s unsuccessful effort to restore President Donald Trump’s name to the building. Cooper previously ruled that changes to the federally established center’s name or related inscriptions require congressional approval. Trump, who chairs the board, has said the aging structure is unsafe and could ultimately be demolished without extensive renovations.
Congress has allocated $257 million for repairs. Trump said the work should proceed only if plans recognizing his role were allowed. Those proposals included adding his name to the facade and renaming the plaza in his honour. Cooper rejected them, concluding that congressional authorization was necessary.
The judge’s latest order does not resolve the conflict over the center’s governance or future. It establishes a notification period while officials assess the building’s condition.