A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Kennedy Center’s board from inscribing President Donald Trump’s name on the building or renaming its grounds, ruling the proposed changes violated federal law and a prior court order.
In a separate development, the board—chaired by Trump and composed largely of his appointees—voted to immediately close the venue for up to two years for emergency renovations, citing structural instability and dire financial conditions.
Judge Christopher Cooper’s ruling came minutes before the board convened to consider the closure. Cooper wrote in a 22-page decision that the board’s plan to add the inscription “Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump” under the Kennedy Center’s name, as well as renaming the plaza “President Donald J. Trump Plaza,” would constitute an illegal memorial without congressional approval. He stated: “Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.”
The board had approved the resolution in August, arguing Trump’s fundraising efforts were critical to preventing bankruptcy. The inscription would only appear if a $100 million fundraising campaign—dubbed the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund”—met its goal. Cooper declined to rule on whether the fund’s name could be used, noting it had not yet raised any money.
Closure vote amid safety concerns
The board’s emergency closure vote followed a partial ceiling collapse in the Grand Foyer earlier this month, which the board described as evidence of imminent structural danger. A construction consultant and the center’s director reportedly deemed the main building unsafe for continued occupancy, according to a draft resolution obtained by NBC News. The board has voted three times since February to close the venue for two-year renovations, but Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex officio board member, has challenged these efforts in court, arguing the board lacks authority to shutter the center without congressional approval.
Beatty’s lawsuit, filed in December, originally sought to block the board from renaming the institution the “Trump Kennedy Center.” Her legal team argued Tuesday that the board’s latest actions were an attempt to circumvent prior rulings. “The law is extremely clear: The John F. Kennedy Center is named for President Kennedy—and no one else,” Beatty said in a statement.
Financial and structural crisis
Kennedy Center officials told the board in recent days that the complex’s finances were “within weeks” of bankruptcy and that the main building’s physical plant was in critical condition. The board’s resolution cited the financial strain and safety risks as justification for an immediate shutdown, though Beatty has argued that emergency repairs could proceed without a full closure.
Judge Cooper noted in his ruling that his prior order had allowed for emergency repairs despite blocking the full closure. He also left open the possibility that the board could later seek approval for limited inscriptions related to the fundraising campaign, depending on future developments.
Trump’s response and board dynamics
Trump, who participated virtually in the closed-door meeting, criticized both Beatty and the judge during the session, according to a source familiar with the proceedings. Earlier, Trump had claimed in a social media post that the ceiling collapse left a security guard “60 seconds from certain death,” though the Kennedy Center’s communications office stated only that a section of ceiling had fallen and no one was injured.
The board, stacked with Trump allies including Cabinet members, has framed the renovations as essential to the center’s survival. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose wife sits on the board, compared the proposed inscriptions to donor recognition at hospitals and universities. However, legal experts and Beatty’s team have countered that the board is overreaching its authority and misusing the memorial’s purpose.
Legal and political implications
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the Kennedy Center’s congressionally mandated status as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy and the Trump administration’s efforts to use the venue to honor its own contributions. The case has raised questions about the limits of presidential influence over federally designated memorials and the board’s legal authority to act without congressional oversight.
The Kennedy Center remains partially covered by scaffolding and tarps following the removal of Trump’s name in June, as ordered by the court. Tuesday’s developments suggest the legal and operational challenges facing the institution will persist as it navigates financial insolvency and structural repairs.