A federal judge on Thursday, September 17, ordered the Trump administration to provide 30 days' notice before modifying or demolishing any portion of the Kennedy Center. Judge Charles Cooper issued the order to clarify the terms of a previous injunction that prohibited the administration from closing or modifying the performing arts center and presidential memorial. The ruling followed efforts by officials to shutter the facility after a court earlier ordered the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the building.
The legal action stems from a dispute over the management of the institution, which was established by Congress and opened in 1971. On Tuesday, September 15, the Kennedy Center board—composed of members appointed by Trump—voted to close the center for up to two years for a $257 million renovation project. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), a center trustee and the plaintiff in the case, challenged the closure, described in court filings as a "pretext" to permanently shut down the facility.
Tension regarding the building escalated on Wednesday, September 16, when Trump told reporters the structure could be "ripped down" if his name was not included on it. Later that day, a photograph taken from outside Air Force One appeared to show the president looking at a placard featuring a picture of the Kennedy Center with text that appeared to read "KENNEDY CENTER DEMOLISHED." Judge Cooper’s Thursday order authorized discovery for Rep. Beatty to investigate the photograph.
In response to the legal filings, Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, stated on Thursday that the center is currently inaccessible to the public during normal hours. He told the court the temporary closure was necessary due to "acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration" of the aging facility.
What happens next: The administration must provide a 30-day notification for any proposed construction changes at the site. The discovery process authorized by Judge Cooper will proceed, allowing Rep. Beatty’s legal team to seek information regarding the placard seen on Air Force One. The facility remains closed to the public for normal operating hours as the court continues to weigh the legality of the board's two-year renovation and closure plan.