Judge blocks Kennedy Center from adding Trump's name and shutting down for renovations

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a temporary block on Friday preventing the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the venue or shutting down for two years. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, who argued the board lacked authority to alter the center’s name, as it was established by Congress in 1971 as a ‘living memorial to John Fitzgerald Kennedy’ under President Lyndon B. Johnson. The judge’s decision explicitly states that only Congress can change the Kennedy Center’s name, dismissing the board’s unilateral attempt. The ruling also questioned the necessity of a full shutdown, noting that planned $275 million renovations could proceed without closing the center completely. Court documents revealed the board only learned of the shutdown plan after Trump posted about it on Truth Social in February, with a March vote approving the closure starting July 5. In response, Trump announced he would cease involvement with the center and work to transfer control back to Congress. Kennedy Center Director Matt Floca had previously stated Trump intended to raise $150 million in private donations over two years, but federal attorneys argued removing the name risked financial instability. The judge, however, found no justification for a full shutdown, allowing limited operations to continue during renovations. The case stems from a December 2025 vote by Trump-appointed board members to add his name to the center amid declining ticket sales. Beatty’s lawsuit challenges the board’s authority, and further legal battles are expected, with testimony indicating the center would have maintained some programming at the REACH expansion and off-site locations despite the shutdown plan.