A federal judge in the United States has instructed the Kennedy Center to give a 30-day notice before making significant physical alterations to the building, such as demolishing it, a move President Donald Trump has previously threatened. The decision by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper aims to prevent confusion following recent events, including the abrupt closure of the center to the public on Wednesday.
Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, temporarily shut down the iconic performing arts venue due to concerns about public safety arising from ongoing structural deterioration. The closure will last at least seven days to evaluate safety risks in deteriorating sections of the main building. Floca clarified that this closure is separate from the board’s decision to indefinitely close the center for repairs after an inspection revealed structural issues in certain areas.
The closure announcement came amid a legal challenge by Democratic congresswoman Rep. Joyce Beatty, a trustee of the Kennedy Center, who sought to prevent what she termed an “unlawful closing” of the building. Beatty has been leading efforts to prevent Trump’s name from being added to the center and had a confrontation with the president during a recent board meeting.
In response to Beatty’s concerns, Cooper clarified that his order prohibits the demolition of the building. The board, aligned with Trump and chaired by him, voted to close the center after a judge blocked the institution from adding Trump’s name to the building.
Trump, named the Kennedy Center’s chairman by his supporters on the board last year, emphasized the need to recognize his efforts to restore the deteriorating building, stating that failure to do so could lead to its closure or demolition due to its poor condition.
Although Congress allocated $257 million for repairs, Trump insisted that the funds would only be used if the board proceeded with adding his name to the building. Singer Barbra Streisand, a past Kennedy Center honoree, expressed dismay over the controversy surrounding the center’s operations and questioned the necessity of its closure for repairs.
An earlier decision by the board to inscribe Trump’s name on the center’s facade was rejected by Cooper in August, who ruled that any changes would require congressional approval. Cooper had previously ruled in May that the addition of Trump’s name to the building was unlawful, leading to its removal.
